Deposition of anti-stick coatings to prevent hydrocarbon buildup on truck engines

Document Type : Research Note

Author

Department of Industrial Engineering, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

The problem of buildup of hydrocarbon deposits on truck engine surfaces may reduce the fuel efficiency, in addition increasing the amount of unburned fuel as exhaust gases can lead to environmental risk. This problematic issue can be resolved by applying anti-stick coatings on engine pistons using PVD technique. In this work, broad range of coating substrate systems (Chrome based (CrN, CrAlTiN), Oxides (TiOx and ZrOx), Carbon based (Graphit-iC™ and Dymon-iC™) and special coating (TiB2), are investigated to determine their ability to act as anti-stick coatings. All the coatings investigated in this study, were applied on polished parts cut from engine piston cylinders. Characterizations were performed after applying droplets of engine oil and heat treating the surfaces up to 400 °C. Based on the evaluation of oil adhesion, surface energy, coating thermal stability, surface morphology, mechanical and crystallographic properties, the anti-stick performance ranking of coatings was suggested for truck engine piston application in order to improve their performance.

Keywords


References:
1.    M. Ürgen , A. F. Çakır , A. Erdemir, Advanced Tribological Coatings for Automotive Applications. International Conference of Tribological Coatings (ICTC) - Energy 1, 3 (2004).
2.    L. Abdulqadir et al., Contemporary challenges of soot build-up in IC engine and their tribological implications. Tribol – Mat. Surf. Interfaces 12, 115 (2018).
3.    T. Hu et al., Impact of fuel injection on dilution of engine crankcase oil for turbocharged gasoline direct-injection engines. SAE Int. J. Engines 8, 1107 (2015).
4.    S. Zzeyani, M. Mikou, J. Naja, Physicochemical Characterization of the Synthetic Lubricating Oils Degradation under the Effect of Vehicle Engine Operation. Eurasian J. Anal. Chem. 13, 4 (2018).
5.    Y. Wen et al., “The impact of injector deposits on spray and particulate emission of advanced gasoline direct injection vehicle” 0148-7191 (SAE Technical Paper, 2016).
6.    W. Heinke et al., Evaluation of PVD nitride coatings, using impact, scratch and Rockwell-C adhesion tests. Thin Solid Films 270, 431 (1995).
7.    A. Erdemir, K. Holmberg, in Coating Technology for Vehicle Applications. (Springer, 2015),  pp. 1-23.
8.    M. L. McConnell et al., The effect of thermal treatments on the tribological properties of PVD hard coatings. Surf. Coat. Techn. 116-119, 1133 (1999).
9.    B. Navinšek, P. Panjan, I. Milošev, PVD coatings as an environmentally clean alternative to electroplating and electroless processes. Surf. Coat. Techn. 116-119, 476 (1999).
10.    E. Lugscheider, K. Bobzin, The influence on surface free energy of PVD-coatings. Surf. Coat. Techn. 142-144, 755 (2001).
11.    B. Prakash, C. Ftikos, J. P. Celis, Fretting wear behavior of PVD TiB2 coatings. Surf. Coat. Techn. 154, 182 (2002).
12.    K. Bobzin et al., High-performance chromium aluminium nitride PVD coatings on roller bearings. Surf. Coat. Techn. 188-189, 649 (2004).
13.    G. S. Fox-Rabinovich et al., Nano-crystalline filtered arc deposited (FAD) TiAlN PVD coatings for high-speed machining applications. Surf. Coat. Techn. 177-178, 800 (2004).
14.    M. Kano, Diamond-like carbon coating applied to automotive engine components. Tribol. Online 9, 135 (2014).
15.    J. Lawal et al., Mechanical properties and abrasive wear behaviour of Al-based PVD amorphous/nanostructured coatings. Surf. Coat. Techn. 310, 59 (2017).
16.    S. C. Cha, A. Erdemir, Coating technology for vehicle applications. (Springer, 2015).
17.    Y. Hsu et al., Anti-Sticking Properties of PVD CrWNx, CrOx and ZrOx Coatings on Medical Electrode Application. Defect Diffus. Forum 297, 656 (2010).
18.    M. Pellizzari, High temperature wear and friction behaviour of nitrided, PVD-duplex and CVD coated tool steel against 6082 Al alloy. Wear 271, 2089 (2011).
19.    F. Silva, R. Martinho, A. Baptista, Characterization of laboratory and industrial CrN/CrCN/diamond-like carbon coatings. Thin Solid Films 550, 278 (2014).
20.    K. Holmberg et al., Global energy consumption due to friction in trucks and buses. Tribol. Int. 78, 94 (2014).
21.    Q. Yang, R. McKellar, Nanolayered CrAlTiN and multilayered CrAlTiN–AlTiN coatings for solid particle erosion protection. Tribol. Int. 83, 12 (2015).
22.    W. Huang et al., Investigation of the tribological and biomechanical properties of CrAlTiN and CrN/NbN coatings on SST 304. Ceram. Int. 43, 7992 (2017).
23.    L. Wang, X. Nie, Effect of annealing temperature on tribological properties and material transfer phenomena of CrN and CrAlN coatings. J. Mater. Eng. Perform 23, 560 (2014).
24.    S. Wan et al., Tribological performance of CrN and CrN/GLC coated components for automotive engine applications. J. Alloy. Comp. 695, 433 (2017).
25.    S. Naghibi et al., Application of Taguchi method for characterization of corrosion behavior of TiO2 coating prepared by sol‐gel dipping technique. Int. J. Appl. Ceram. Tec. 11, 901 (2014).
26.    A. N. Ranade et al., Relationship between hardness and fracture toughness in Ti–TiB2 nanocomposite coatings. Surf. Coat. Techn. 213, 26 (2012).
27.    J. Stallard, D. G. Teer, A study of the tribological behaviour of CrN, Graphit-iC and Dymon-iC coatings under oil lubrication. Surf. Coat. Techn. 188–189, 525 (2004).
28.    K. Schreer et al., Analysis of Aluminum and Steel Pistons—Comparison of Friction, Piston Temperature, and Combustion. J. Eng. Gas Turb. Power 136, 101506 (2014).
29.    Owens D. K. , Wendt R. C., Estimation of the surface free energy of polymers. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 13, 1741 (1969).
30.    H. Jehn, G. Reiners, N. S. (Eds.), DIN Fachbericht 39, Characterisierung dunner Schichten. DIN Fachbericht 39 (Beuth verlag, Berlin, 1993).
31.    G. S. Fox-Rabinovich et al., The role of chromium in protective alumina scale formation during the oxidation of ternary TiAlCr alloys in air. Intermetallics 12, 165 (2004).
32.    L. Bai et al., Study on thermal stability of CrTiAlN coating for dry drilling. Surf. Coat. Techn. 201, 5257 (2007).
Volume 27, Issue 5 - Serial Number 5
Transactions on Mechanical Engineering (B)
September and October 2020
Pages 2489-2497
  • Receive Date: 27 February 2019
  • Revise Date: 21 May 2019
  • Accept Date: 15 June 2020