Super Lubricity Boron Nitride Nanostructure Coatings for Diesel Components

The federal mandated fuel economy and emission requiremens are deiving diesel engine designs, materials and manufacturing practices to the limits of their existing capabilities. The use of ceramic monolithics and improved high temperature tribology coatings are under intense investigation worldwide. A systematic approach for exploiting a breakthrough magnetron sputtered thin film technology - multiple nanostructure bilayers, modulus" effect - has the potential for unprecedented friction and wear perofmrance on diesel piston rings, piston wrist pins and numerous fuel injector components. BN/metal multilayer coatings will be developed and optimized for adhesion, friction and wear. Microstructural features, hardness and tribological properties will be correlated with deposition process conditions and bilayer compositions (BN/metal thickness ratios). Piston rings will be coated and evaluated in Detroit Diesel's laboratory engine simualtion rig. This approach permits rapid evaluation in single and multiple engine cylinder tests in Phase II.