Steel 32CDV13 - 1.8522 - 33CrMoV12 - FE-PL1504

A high-performance steel for aerospace: the 32CDV13 grade

The 32CDV13 is a high-performance steel that has been historically recognized as such. Emerging in the second half of the 20th century, this grade has been the subject of numerous studies conducted by companies in various sectors - such as Safran, Airbus, Naval Group, and NTN-SNR - in France and internationally.

This alloy is widely used in mechanical power transmission systems, which are constantly subjected to intense and repeated stress. It is found in the main transmission gearboxes of helicopters, which require high load-bearing capacity, as well as in accessory drive systems of aircraft turbine engines, where bearings operate at high speed and under high temperatures. This steel therefore meets the strict requirements of the aerospace sector: it exhibits excellent resistance to temperature variations, fatigue, and tensile stress, as well as remarkable dimensional stability.

Before treatment, it offers good machinability and acceptable weldability, provided that pre- and post-heating parameters are respected. After treatment, the 32CDV13 forms an optimized structure. Its surface layer hardens, while a deeper diffusion layer forms, which is more ductile yet still harder than the original core, exhibiting a martensitic microstructure. Depending on the applied treatment, its surface hardness can reach 300 to 400 HB with good resilience, and up to 1000 Vickers after nitriding.

These characteristics make it an essential material for demanding aerospace and mechanical applications.