DEVELOPMENT OF THE 51CrV4 ALLOY IN THE ROLLING OF HELICAL BLADES FOR GRAIN CONVEYORS

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.13176326270310

• Palavras-chave: Conveyor screw, 51CrV4 alloy, Forming, Wear resistance.

• Keywords: Conveyor screw, 51CrV4 alloy, Forming, Wear resistance.

• Abstract:

  The helical blades used in grain conveyors are parts welded to a rotating shaft and mounted inside a tube, transporting material from one point to another. They undergo significant cold deformation and require good wear resistance when transporting abrasive materials.
  The alloys currently used are SAE 1006, which can undergo a carburizing process followed by quenching or metalizing, and the post-quenched 27MnCrB5 alloy to increase hardness and wear resistance.
  To increase the wear resistance of the helical blades, the re-rolled 51CrV4 alloy was developed so that its structure and mechanical properties would allow for the degree of forming applied in the process. It was possible to achieve mechanical properties (LR – 504 MPa, LE – 404 MPa, and Al80 – 22.5%) and a 100% coalesced microstructure, allowing forming without cracks at the edges, even with a thickness reduction of approximately 60% at the outer edge of the helical blade. Following the forming process, quenching was performed, yielding average hardness values of 61 HRC at the outer edge; subsequently, the helical screw was welded to the rotating shaft of the grain conveyor for field tests, which are still ongoing to quantify the service life of the helical screw produced with the 51CrV4 alloy.