Techniques to Enhance Corrosion Resistance of Precision Piston Rods

1. Roller Burnishing Process

By applying a roller burnishing technique, a hardened cold-worked surface layer is formed on the piston rod. This process reduces the elastic and plastic deformation of the contact surface between mating parts, delays the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks, and significantly enhances the surface's corrosion resistance.

2. Chrome Plating

After undergoing hard chrome plating, precision piston rods gain a hard, smooth, and corrosion-resistant surface. The hardness of the chrome layer can reach up to HV1100. The coating is uniform in thickness and exhibits excellent surface smoothness and strong distribution capability, improving both durability and resistance to wear and rust.

3. Quenching and Tempering (Heat Treatment)

Quenching and tempering improve the material’s working strength, help seal microscopic surface cracks, and block the spread of corrosive damage. However, not all piston rods require heat treatment — the necessity depends on the specific material type and working conditions.

How to Improve the Performance of Precision Piston Rods

Modern precision piston rods are designed to fit tightly within the cylinder body. During installation, care must be taken to press the cylinder sleeve evenly with both hands to avoid deformation or loss of sealing performance when tightening the engine mounting bolts.

Improper production and machining of piston rods can severely affect product quality. Therefore, hydraulic cylinder processing should be carried out with high precision to enhance corrosion resistance and delay fatigue crack formation, thereby improving the fatigue limit of the piston rod.

With roller burnishing, multiple hardened layers are created on the surface, reducing ductility and plastic deformation of the mating parts, which increases surface wear resistance and prevents thermal damage caused by machining. Lower surface roughness after rolling also improves the matching characteristics between components.

Since piston rods contain critical components, the overall system performance heavily relies on the mechanical properties and precision of the rods. To ensure safe and reliable operation, it is essential to maintain high standards in processing, assembly, and material selection.