Selection of materials for racing car clutch steel plates and heat treatment processes
The clutch steel plates of racing cars, as the core components of the transmission system, directly affect the efficiency and reliability of power transmission. The following is a deep analysis from the perspectives of materials, structure, process, maintenance, and cutting-edge technologies:
1. Material Selection and Heat Treatment Process
- Basic Materials
Racing car steel plates mostly use high-strength spring steel, such as 65Mn and 50CrVA. 65Mn steel is cost-effective and has balanced overall performance. After quenching and tempering, its hardness can reach HRC42-48, suitable for most races. 50CrVA steel maintains excellent elastic modulus at high temperatures and is often used in endurance races and other high-load scenarios. Some top racing cars also use titanium alloys, which have a density of only 60% of steel but a tensile strength of over 1100MPa, significantly reducing rotational inertia.
- Heat Treatment Innovations
Carburizing and quenching: After carburizing at 850°C for 2 hours and quenching, a hardened layer of 0.1-0.25mm can be formed on the surface of the steel plate, with a surface hardness of HV615-740.
Constant-temperature and pressure process: Such as the patent technology of JiuTong Automobile in 2025, through multiple pressurizations (pressure range 5-10MPa) during the main curing stage at 140°C, combined with intermittent constant pressure (8-12MPa) during the high-temperature stabilization stage at 190°C, can eliminate over 90% of internal stress and increase fatigue life by more than 30%.
Hot die pressing tempering: Replacing traditional fixture tempering, it is shaped through a mold at 333-343°C, and at the same time, a blued effect is achieved through tempering color without chemical treatment, which is environmentally friendly and increases the qualification rate to over 95%.
