The invention provides a method for improving the
hardenability of a gear
steel bar and the gear
steel bar, and belongs to the technical field of
continuous casting process.The method comprises the steps that
molten steel with qualified components is cast through a
continuous casting machine; in the solidification stage, a reduction process is adopted; after solidification, the hot-state
casting blank is rolled; in the
continuous casting process, the superheat degree of a
tundish is 40-45 DEG C, and the
electromagnetic stirring current of a crystallizer is 50-150A; according to the reduction process, the reduction amount is controlled through the change of the center
solid fraction of a
casting blank, the center
solid fraction of a reduction area is 0.05-1.0, and the reduction amount is not smaller than 1 mm and not larger than 3 mm in a continuous
casting reduction area corresponding to the center
solid fraction smaller than 0.3. And the rolling section
compression ratio is not less than 90%. By controlling the degree of superheat,
electromagnetic stirring of a crystallizer, a pressing process and a rolling process, an equiaxed
crystal area of a casting blank and a bar is reduced, meanwhile, formation of semi-macroscopic point segregation of the equiaxed
crystal area is restrained, and an as-cast structure of a bar
hardenability detection area is converted into columnar crystals from
equiaxed crystals; and the section solute range and standard deviation and dendritic structure solute
distribution uniformity are further improved, the A and B surface difference values of J9 and J15 are both smaller than or equal to 1.5 HRC, the
hardenability index is qualified, the subsequent gear heat treatment non-uniform
distortion is reduced, and the product homogeneity is improved.