Automotive drive shafts typically contain one or more universal joints and couplings, which requires special steel with excellent strength and wear resistance, while minimizing additional weight.
Special steels commonly used in the manufacture of automotive drive shafts include SUJ2 alloy steel, SKD61 hot work tool steel, and SKD11 cold work tool steel.
SUJ2 alloy steel is renowned for its excellent hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, making it ideal for manufacturing demanding parts. In addition, SUJ2 alloy steel exhibits good machinability and heat treatment stability, making it easy to process and form various automotive parts.
SKD61 hot work tool steel is renowned for its excellent hardness and strength, and is a high-strength alloy steel. With proper heat treatment, it can achieve high hardness and good wear resistance, making it ideal for manufacturing wear-resistant and high-load-bearing parts. Furthermore, SKD61 has good hardenability, and its microstructure is uniform and fine after heat treatment, further enhancing the material's strength and toughness.
SKD11 cold work tool steel has a high carbon content, typically above 0.90%, resulting in excellent hardness and wear resistance. Due to its high carbon content, SKD11 exhibits outstanding machinability, making it ideal for manufacturing molds and cutting tools of various complex shapes. Appropriate heat treatment can further enhance its hardness and wear resistance, thereby extending the service life of molds and cutting tools.
