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A diamond-like carbon coating for aluminum alloy piston/bore application

Conference ·
OSTI ID:282291

This paper examines the potential use of diamond-like carbon (DLC) on aluminum alloy pistons of internal combustion engines. The approach is to apply a DLC coating on the piston running against an aluminum-390 bore thus eliminating the iron liners in a standard piston/bore system. Experimental data, using a pin-on-disk tribometer under unlubricated test conditions, indicate that the performance of the DLC coating against aluminum-390 exhibits superior friction resistance compared to aluminum-390 against cast iron: the latter material couple representing the materials currently being used in production for the piston/bore application. Moreover, by thermally cycling the DLC coatings the authors show that improved friction and wear properties can be maintained to temperatures as high as 400 C.

OSTI ID:
282291
Report Number(s):
CONF-960204--; ISBN 1-56091-768-7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English