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For the requirements of high power output, lightweight and improved fuel consumption of motorcycles to respond to global environmental needs, high fatigue strength to cope with high stress is becoming more important than ever for valve springs. To satisfy such needs, a new alloy steel that softens less in tempering (1),(2) and nitriding that increases surface hardness of valve springs has been developed using oil-tempered silicone-chrome steel wire as the base material. Also, with regards to shot-peening to create compression residual stress on the surface, studies are being performed for multi-stage and high-hardness peening. The research reported in this paper is aimed at an increase of internal hardness after nitriding while maintaining the cold-coiling-ability by adding elements that reduce softening from tempering while reducing non-dissolved carbide in the material.

In recent years, efforts for development of high-performance and compact automobile engine are being made more actively than ever before. The connecting rod bolt is one of those parts which are very much required to be compact and light, since its size and weight affect the performance of the engine. However, if it is used under high stress, delayed fracture can be caused. Therefore, it is a common practice to keep the stress below 1177MPa. The developed alloy (HB149) is a precipitation hardening alloy steel of low carbon martensite, composed mainly of 0.35C-1.2Cr-1.0Mo-0.3V. With lowered intergranular inclusions by suppressing impurity elements such as phosphorus and sulfur, and with reduced grain boundary embrittlement by tempering it at a high temperature, this steel is excellent in resistance to delayed fracture. Using this steel, we developed a 1372MPa class (Class 14.9*) high strength connecting rod bolt.