Steel material for mechanical structure excellent in suitability for rolling, quenching crack resistance, and torsional property and drive shaft

Abstract

A machine structural steel product having superior formability of rotary-forming, torsional properties, and quenching-crack resistance is provided which is manufactured using an electric furnace instead of a blast furnace and which removes adverse influences of tramp elements. A drive shaft having a superior static strength and fatigue strength is provided. In particular, the machine structural steel product contains: on a mass percent basis, C: 0.35% to 0.50%; Si: 0.15% or less; Mn: 0.20% to 1.1%; P: 0.02% or less; S: 0.005% to 0.035%; Cr: more than 0.1% to 0.2%; Mo: 0.05% to 0.5%; Ti: 0.01% to 0.05%; Al: 0.01% to 0.05%; N: 0.01% or less; B: 0.0005% to 0.0050%; Cu: 0.06% to 0.25%; and Ni: 0.05% to 0.2%, and in addition, the composition described above is adjusted so that an LD value represented by the following equation (1) satisfies 120 or less. LD=0.569×{7.98×(C)} 1/2 ×(1+4.1Mn)·(1+2.83P)·(1−0.62S)·(1+0.64Si)·(1+2.33Cr)·(1+0.52Ni)·(1+3.14Mo)·(1+0.27Cu)·(1+1.5(0.9−C))}+52.6  (1) In the above equation, C, Mn, P, S, Si, Cr, Ni, Mo, and Cu in the equation each indicate the content (mass percent) of the respective elements.

1 . A machine structural steel product provided with superior formability of rotary-forming, quenching-crack resistance, and torsional properties, comprising: on a mass percent basis, 
 C: 0.35% to 0.50%;    Si: 0.15% or less;    Mn: 0.20% to 1.1%;    P: 0.02% or less;    S: 0.005% to 0.035%;    Cr: more than 0.1% to 0.2%;    Mo: 0.05% to 0.5%;    Ti: 0.01% to 0.05%;    Al: 0.01% to 0.05%;    N: 0.01% or less;    B: 0.0005% to 0.0050%;    Cu: 0.06% to 0.25%; and    Ni: 0.05% to 0.2%,    wherein an LD value represented by the following equation (1) of 120 or less is satisfied, and the balance of the composition includes Fe and inevitable impurities:    note     LD=0.569×{7.98×(C)} 1/2 ×(1+4.1Mn)·(1+2.83P)·(1−0.62S)·(1+0.64Si)·(1+2.33Cr)·(1+0.52Ni)·(1+3.14Mo)·(1+0.27Cu)·(1+1.5(0.9−C))}+52.6  (1),   where C, Mn, P, S, Si, Cr, Ni, Mo, and Cu in the equation each indicate the content (mass percent) of the respective elements.    
   
   
       2 . The machine structural steel product having superior formability of rotary-forming, quenching-crack resistance, and torsional properties, according to  claim 1 , further comprising: on a mass percent basis, 
 V: 0.01% to 0.30%, and    Nb; 0.005% to 0.05%.    
   
   
       3 . A drive shaft comprising the machine structural steel product according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a hardened layer is provided thereon by performing induction hardening and tempering.