A 400-Kilometer High-Speed Rail Titanium Alloy Die Forging Component Bogie Has Achieved A Major Breakthrough

      Recently, the Science and Technology Department of Qinghai Province organized experts to conduct a project acceptance for the provincial key research and transformation plan – “Research and Development of Titanium Alloy Forgings for 400KM High-Speed Train Carriages”. The successful acceptance of this project indicates that Qinghai has made significant progress in the field of high-end equipment manufacturing.

      This project closely focused on the urgent requirements of weight reduction, anti – corrosion, and high strength for the bogies of the new – generation CR450 EMUs with a speed of 400 kilometers per hour. The research and development of large – sized TC4 titanium alloy bars and cross – beam die – forged parts were meticulously carried out. During the R & D process, the research team overcame numerous difficulties and successfully broke through the manufacturing process bottlenecks of large – sized TC4 titanium alloy bars (φ400mm grade) and bogie cross – beam die – forged parts. After strict testing, the die – forged parts achieved an impact energy of ≥20.5J under a low – temperature impact load of – 40°C, a tensile strength of 640.5MPa at 400°C, a room – temperature tensile strength as high as 985MPa, a room – temperature yield strength of ≥890MPa, and the hydrogen content of the forged parts after heat treatment was controlled at 17ppm. The achievement of these excellent performance indicators successfully realized a zero – breakthrough in the domestic manufacturing of large – sized die – forged parts for titanium alloy high – speed train bogie cross – beams, injecting new technological vitality into China’s high – speed train equipment manufacturing.

      After the completion of the project, compared with traditional steel – cast or steel – plate – welded bogies, titanium alloy bogies demonstrated significant advantages. They have higher strength, lighter weight, and stronger anti – corrosion properties, perfectly meeting the requirements of modern high – speed trains for high – performance bogies. Based on the application scenarios of the world’s fastest EMU, the CR450, the project team carried out scientific research tests and evaluations at multiple speed levels and in various forms. The tests results proved that compared with the previous generation trains in the espects of operating speed, energy consumption, interior noise, and braking distance, the prototype train were faster, safer, more energy-saving, more comfortable, and more intelligent. This project achievement not only improves the overall performance of China’s high-speed rail, but also consolidates China’s leading position in the global high-speed rail field.