Our shaft materials are widely specified by a wide variety of industries for their long service life and consistent product qualities.

Triloy - An alloy steel bar with special processing to provide exceptional strength and durability.  Triloy is specified for power transmission shafting in a wide variety of industries.

Special Treated Pins

Durralex

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Triloy - Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Triloy is listed as an exclusive composition, what does that mean?
A:  We start out with a modified 4340 alloy bar which has slightly higher carbon and nickel levels.  It is then injected with calcium silicate during the melt process to control the shape of manganese-sulfur inclusions.  If the other suppliers do not list this treatment, the extra steps have not been taken.  Compare carefully.

Q:  Aren’t all 4340 shafts are the same? 
A:  Definitely not.  4340 can be many different strengths depending on the tempering and heat treatment.  When you buy Triloy, it has always been heat  treated the exact same way, for extremely consistent results.   You can obtain 4340 anywhere from annealed bar which is soft (140 BHN) and low in strength, to 600 BHN and unless you specify what hardness you want, you cannot be certain of what you will be getting.  Triloy® will always be from 285 to 341 BHN, every time.

Q:  Do we add sulfur to the steel to make it easier to machine?
A:  Lower priced 4340 steels have sulfur added to improve machinability, however the more sulfur you add, the more brittle the steel becomes.  Sulfur has a string-shaped molecule.  When they line up, they form inclusions and create a high fracture potential, meaning possible failure is quite high.

Q:  Triloy is listed as triple heat-treated, what additional steps are taken?
A:  After the bar is rolled to size, it is heated to about 1600° F, and quenched in oil, to temper it.  Going through that process sometimes causes it to distort, requiring you to straighten the shaft.   It is straightened by cold working it, which induces stress into the metal.  It is then tempered again to stress relieve it.  Triloy® is therefore quenched, tempered and stress relieved.  Since it removes the internal stresses, this makes the shaft not distort during machining.

Q: Are the bars rolled or forged?
A:  Steel mills will roll bars up to about 10” diameter.  Above that, or for a step shaft, they are made from a forging.  The equipment available at the rolling mill in the US determines the sizes available.  

Q:  Can only certain areas be induction hardened for wear resistance on the shaft?
A:  Absolutely.  That is a common application for bearing areas or for gudgeon pins, which attach screw conveyors together. 

Q:  What are the advantages to Triloy over less expensive steels?
A:  Greater strength and higher harden-ability.  Less expensive 1050 steel can also be surface or casehardened.  Triloy will harden much deeper in cross section for more wear resistance.  This is more important the greater the diameter of the bar.  

Q:  Increased machine cutting speeds of 20% to 40% can be expected.  Why is that?
A:  The harder the steel, the tougher the machinability and cutting speeds slow down.  By controlling the sulfur shapes, it acts to lubricate the cutting tools for faster stock removal.  Triloy® not only increases your cutting speeds, it maintains the high strength without becoming brittle.

Q:  What is the straightness tolerance and finishes available on Triloy?
A:  Straightness is 0.002” TIR.  We stock it from 1” through 6” in 1/16” increments.   They are available in Turned, Ground & Polished (TGP) or with a standard hot rolled finish. 

Q:  Is Triloy pin stock the same as Triloy® shaft material?
A:  The pin stock is the same chemistry, however, it is de-sulfurized and heat-treated to 369 to 430 BHN.  This eliminates the sulfur, which could cause cracking potential in the high hardness.    The surface can then be induction hardened up ½” or deeper to 700 BHN, for a very durable, wear resistant surface. 

Q:  What does vacuum de-gassed mean?
A:  When steel is melted in the air it picks up hydrogen and oxygen from the atmosphere.  Adding aluminum or silicon can eliminate oxygen.  The only way to get rid of hydrogen is to insert the molten steel into a vacuum chamber, which de-gasses or removes both the oxygen and hydrogen.  Oxygen in the steel causes voids in the steel, while hydrogen causes internal cracks in the steel resulting in a future failure. 

Q:  What about resistance of the shaft to bending and breaking with Triloy?
A:  The higher the strength, the less susceptible it is to bending.  Triloy® has 160,000 Psi tensile strength.

Q:  Why is this material specified in the pulp & paper industry?
A:  For the excellent strength and fatigue resistance.  Reel spool journals are a good example because they are constantly turning and the higher the strength, the longer the product will last.

Q:  Is Triloy TG&P available in metric sizes?
A:  Yes.  The shafts are centerless ground to the dimensions required, metric or standard.  We have a few metric sizes in stock.  Please advise your requirements.

Q:  What about a step down shaft with a 6” diameter shaft that has one area that is 14” diameter?
A:  By using a step down forging to your specifications, it is more economical.  Because they are created for your unique application, there is a longer lead time.  The steel is still the same Triloy alloy.
 

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Triloy HT (Heat Treated)

Triloy HT, is a quenched and tempered, machine straightened and stress relieved or stress free alloy bar, widely becoming the most utilized alloy steel shafting materials in industry.

 The exclusive composition of Triloy is manufactured under more rigid controls, during involved special processing, than other alloy grades.

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Triloy - Features & Benefits

 

  • Very high strength levels
  • High hardness
  • Excellent hardenability for depth of hardness
  • Pre-hardened – yet readily machinable
  • Superior toughness
  • Deep hardened to core
  • Special treatment to enhance machinability and internal cleanliness
  • Fine grain microstructure
  • Special treated to reduce residual stresses
  • Reduced distortion during machining
  • Improved fatigue properties provides longer service life
  • Vacuum degassed
  • Demagnetized
  • Complete inventories maintained for prompt service

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Triloy - Availability

 Size Range
Rolled Round Bars 1" dia. thru 11" dia.
Forged & Rough-Turned Round Bars 11.5" dia. thru 18" dia.
Forgings Special Sizes & Shapes per your request
 
*Standard bar lengths = To 25 ft.

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Triloy - Metallurgical Data:
Chemistry  Range
Carbon .38 / .44
Manganese .60 / .90
Phosphorus .030 Max.
Sulfur .015 / .040
Silicon .15 / .40
Nickel 1.65 / 2.00
Chromium .70 / 1.00
Molybdenum .20 / .35
Aluminum  .010 / .60
 
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Triloy - Mechanical Properties:

A surface Brinnel Hardness of 286 to 340 BHN is guaranteed on each Triloy® HT bar. Mechanical Properties are reported for information only on a per size per heat basis. Typical properties are shown below. Variance in properties are dependent on diameter.

Tensile Strength 125/170 KSI
Yield Strength 115/150 KSI
Elongation in 2" 
Reduction of Area 44/60 %
Brinnel Hardness 286/340 BHN
Charpy V-Notch 50 ft-lbs @ R.T.
Modulus of Elasticity:
Ratio of stress to Corresponding Strain
30,000 psi (Regardless of Microstructure and Hardness)

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Triloy - Hardening Triloy H.T.

We are equipped to handle your surface hardening requirements in our plant. Let us assist you in "tailoring" your replacement shafts to greatly increase service life. For specific instructions on austenitizing, quenching, tempering, annealing, or flame hardening Triloy®, contact the Tricon® service representative nearest you.

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Triloy - Welding Instructions
Triloy is an alloy steel in the medium carbon range with high hardenability characteristics, causing the welder to follow a more strict welding procedure prior to, during and after welding. By doing so, a weldment of satisfactory quality will be produced.

The preheat temperature should be 500°F - 600°F and the interpass temperature should not exceed 700°F.
To minimize residual stresses, slow cooling and post weld stress relieving must be performed. Consult Tricon's technical department for recommended stress relief temperature.
If the proper preheat and interpass temperature is maintained, electrode selection is broadened to most of the AWS EXX18 or EXXX18 classes.

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Triloy - Machining

The influence of Triloy's full-processing / fine-grain microstructure (8/9) improves machinability. A true correlation between hardness, microstructure and machinability can be determined only if the other requirements of good machining practice are adhered to:

1. Adequately powered and sufficiently rigid machines and tooling.

2. Tooling of proper design and quality. (Standard tooling can be furnished by any reliable tool distributor.)

3. A sufficient amount of coolant should be applied to work piece to eliminate any heat buildup.

If coolant is applied to tool, it should be flooded at all times to prevent any cracking of tooling from expansion and contraction.

Following are specific machining instructions and machine settings on face milling, lathe turning, end milling (slotting),

drilling:

 

Drilling Triloy 
Speed fpm Feed - Inches per Revolution HSS Tool Material
Nominal Hole Diameter in Inches
0.125" 0.25" 0.50" .75" 1" 1.5" 2" T15, M33 and
35 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.004 0.006 0.006 0.008 M41 thru M47

 

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Triloy TG&P

Triloy TG&P (Turned, Ground and Polished) bars are produced from Triloy HT stock.

Further manufacturing includes turning, grinding and polishing to accurate diameters with hi-luster surface finish eliminating surface defects, bows, and additional costly machining.

 

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Special Treated Pins

Special Bushings

Pin Stock

Super-X® Pins

Welding Special Treated Pins

Special Treated Pins

Through the use of our proprietary material and the latest in heat treating technology, Kennametal® Tricon® Special Treated Pins achieve a product that delivers substantial savings, less equipment downtime and increased productivity.

Special Treated Pins are alloyed steel pins with exceptional wear resistance and toughness. The Special Treated Pins are produced from vacuum degassed, Calcium-Silicon injected, Ni-Cr-Mo steel pin stock that has been quenched, tempered and stress relieved to 360 BHN minimum.  These properties are prerequisites for the proprietary Kennametal® Tricon® treatment, which imparts a superior wear resistant surface and tough inner core.

Notice the color difference on the outside of this pin section.  The exterior of the pin in the bearing areas are over 600 BHN while the center of the pin remains tough and strong.

Hardness values typically are between 600 and 713 BHN, while core impact values are exceedingly high.

Special Bushings are custom made from austenitic, forged, high carbon, 11% - 14% manganese steel. Our Special Bushings have been field proven through many years of extreme use for dragline and shovel buckets. The Special Bushings are designed for applications subject to heavy loading and abrasive wear with no lubrication. Because these Special Bushings work harden, they maintain a ductile center yet retain an abrasion resistant surface, avoiding the cracking problems associated with castings.

Reduce Downtime
Reduce Maintenance Costs
Prompt Delivery
Field Services to Assist with Measurements
Increase Profits
Increase Production
Decrease Inventories
Tailored to Applications

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Pin Stock
Wear-prone production equipment downtime is not always scheduled. Kennametal® Tricon® realizes this fact and maintains pin stock readily available to serve your order on short notice. Inventories in diameters up to 18" are stocked to ensure prompt delivery.

The pin stock used for ourSpecial Treated Pins are mill certified, ultrasonically inspected, heat treated, straightened and stress relieved to our specifications. Thru-hardening assures a tough, wear resistant core.

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Super-X® Pins

For applications involving severe heat and wear, Tricon® has developed the Super-X® pin.

 
This unique pin is a composite product consisting of a tough inner core and a super hard, heat resisting surface. A low coefficient of friction is maintained on the pin surface as the result of precise metallurgical control.

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Welding Special Treated Pins
Welding the headers onto the pin stock is a crucial operation.
 
Custom formulated electrodes are used under closely controlled conditions to achieve high strength and toughness in every Kennametal® Tricon® Special Treated Pin. After the header is welded, the pin is subjected to an additional special treatment to ensure the longest wear life possible.


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