Abstract:
An iron-based alloy for use in a plasma transferred wire arc thermal spray apparatus includes a high sulfur steel alloy in a stainless and non-stainless forms including a high aluminum and high titanium content. The alloy has significant improvements in the elimination of spray coating cracking, reduction of machining cost, and improved lubrication performance.
Abstract:
A method of treating the surface of an aluminum-based engine block cylinder bore that has been mechanically roughened. In one form, this method includes using vibratory stress relief, elevated temperature stress relief or cryogenic stress relief so that residual stresses imparted to the surface by the roughening process are reduced. In this way, a protective coating that is also applied to the bore surface will exhibit better adhesion and lower incidence of stress-induced or fatigue-induced cracking.
Abstract:
Engine block assemblies and methods for making the same are provided. Methods include casting an engine block around one or more extruded aluminum cylindrical cylinder liners, wherein each cylinder liner includes a cylindrical inner surface and an outer surface, and the outer surface of each of the cylinder liners is contiguous with the engine block and defines a cylinder bore, subsequently surface-preparing the inner surface of each of the cylinder liners, subsequently applying a ferrous liner to an inner side of each of the cylinder liners via thermal spraying, and subsequently machining an inner surface of the ferrous liner. Each of the aluminum cylinder liners are extruded, and can comprise a low silicon content aluminum alloy. The engine block can comprise a high silicon content aluminum alloy. Each of the one or more ferrous liners comprises a thickness of less than about 175 microns.
Abstract:
An improved substrate surface texture i.e., roughness, significantly improves the adhesion of thermal spray coatings. The surface texture is defined by two metrology parameters and the invention comprehends a range of average roughness (Sa) between 9 and 15 μm and developed interfacial area ratio (Sdr) of greater than 100%. This surface texture is achieved by methods such as water jet erosion, mechanical roughening, laser texturing, chemical etching and plasma etching. The surface texture is especially beneficial for walls of cylinders of internal combustion engines, hydraulic cylinders and similar components to which a thermal spray coating is adhered and which are exposed to sliding or frictional wear.
Abstract:
An engine block, an automotive structure, and a method of coating an inner surface of an engine cylinder bore of an engine cylinder are provided. The method includes providing an inner bore substrate defining an inner surface of the engine cylinder bore, the inner bore substrate being formed of a first material. The method further includes disposing a thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the engine cylinder bore. The thermal spray coating is formed of a second material that is different than the first material. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the thermal spray coating with a laser after performing the step of disposing the thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the engine cylinder bore. The automotive structure and the engine block have a substrate covered by a thermal spray coating and laser remelted sections anchoring the coating to the substrate.
Abstract:
An improved substrate surface texture i.e., roughness, significantly improves the adhesion of thermal spray coatings. The surface texture is defined by two metrology parameters and the invention comprehends a range of average roughness (Sa) between 9 and 15 μm and developed interfacial area ratio (Sdr) of greater than 100%. This surface texture is achieved by methods such as water jet erosion, mechanical roughening, laser texturing, chemical etching and plasma etching. The surface texture is especially beneficial for walls of cylinders of internal combustion engines, hydraulic cylinders and similar components to which a thermal spray coating is adhered and which are exposed to sliding or frictional wear.
Abstract:
A system for inspecting thermal spray coated cylinder bores of aluminum alloy cylinder blocks, the system includes a failure detection apparatus, a heating apparatus, a cooling apparatus, and a control unit in electronic communication with each of the failure detection apparatus, the heating apparatus, and the cooling apparatus, and wherein the control unit includes a memory and a control logic sequence for operating the system.
Abstract:
An engine cylinder bore with a plated bondcoat and a method of coating the surface of an engine cylinder bore. This method includes electroplating a bondcoat to the surface such that a substantial entirety of its inner circumference that corresponds to a piston travel path within the cylinder bore is covered. Cleaning or related pretreatment operations to properly activate the plated surface helps to ensure a durable coupling of a subsequently-applied thermal spray coating. In one preferred form, the cylinder bore is made from an aluminum-based alloy or a magnesium-based alloy that may be roughened prior to applying the bondcoat, while the bondcoat is plated using a titanium-based material such that a relatively thin TiO2 layer is formed on the cylinder bore. In another preferred form, the thermal spray coating is made of an iron-based material.