Abstract

The addition of transition metals to piston materials is an effective method of increasing their strength at high temperatures. However, the addition of transition metals increases specific gravity and promotes the crystallization of coarse intermetallic compounds, reducing forgeability. To respond to these issues, a new piston material has been developed in which the type and amount of the added transition metals and the size of the crystallized intermetallic compounds has been optimized. In order to control the size of the intermetallic compounds, the material is not produced by conventional metal mold casting, but by a carbon mold continuous casting method that enables a fine and uniform structure to be obtained. The optimization of the elements forming the intermetallic compounds and the quantity of these elements added, in addition to the addition of refining elements, to enable dispersion of needle-type intermetallic compounds throughout the alloy, has resulted in the achievement of levels of specific gravity and forgeability similar to those of a conventional forged piston material, while increasing strength at high temperatures by approximately 50%.

References

1. (1) Belov, N. A., Eskin, D. G., Avxentieva, N. N.: Constituent phase diagrams of the Al-Cu-Fe-Mg-Ni-Si System and their application to the analysis of aluminium piston alloys, Acta Materialia, Elsevier Ltd., Vol. 53, Issue 17, p. 4709-4722 (2005)
2. (2) Buha, J., Lumley, R. N., Crosky, A. G., Hono, K.: Secondary precipitation in an AL-Mg-Si-Cu alloy, Acta Materialia, Elsevier Ltd., Vol. 55, Issue 9, p. 3015-3024 (2007)
3. (3) Yamauchi, T., Suzuki, M., Takahashi, M., Takada, I., Toda, M.: Development of Aluminum Borate Whiskers Reinforced Piston by Squeeze Casting – Part2 : Properties of Metal Matrix Composites Reinforced with Granulated Whiskers Preform, JSAE Annual Congress (Spring) Proceedings 981, Society of Automotive Engineering of Japan, p. 125-128 (1998)
4. (4) Yamashita, M., Kikuchi, T., Kawasaki, M.: Development of High Performance MMC for Diesel Engine Piston, JSAE Annual Congress (Autumn) Proceedings No. 91-98, Society of Automotive Engineering of Japan, p. 9-12 (1998)
5. (5) Tanihata, A., Sato, N., Katsumata, K., Shiraishi, T., Oda, K., Endo, O.: Development of high-strength piston using die casting process, Journal of Japan Institute of Light Metals, Vol. 57, No. 3, p. 131-136 (2007)
6. (6) Tanihata, A., Sato, K., Furukawa, K.: Development of High-strength Piston Material with Die Casting, Honda R&D Technical Review, Vol. 17, No. 2, p. 122-128
7. (7) Akiyama, H., Amaki, Y., Tohma, K.: Development of Peeling-less Casting Billet for Forged Aluminum Suspension Arm, Honda R&D Technical Review, Vol. 16, No. 2, p. 31-36
8. (8) Polmer, I. J.: LIGHT ALLOYS Metallurgy of the light metals, Edward Arnold, p. 126 (1995)
9. (9) Catherall, J. A., Smart, R. F. : The Effects of Nickel in Aluminium- Silicon Eutectic Alloys, Metallurgia, Vol. 79, No. 476, p. 347 (1969)
10. (10) Japan Aluminum Association: The Handbook of Advanced Aluminum Technology, Kallos Publishing Co. Ltd., p. 131 (1996)

Author (organization or company)

• Hidenori FUJII（Motorcycle R&D Center）
• Tomoo OKA（Motorcycle R&D Center）
• Masaki YONEYAMA（Motorcycle R&D Center）
• Toshiaki DEGUCHI（Motorcycle R&D Center）
• Hirotaka MURAKAMI（Motorcycle R&D Center）

Publication Information

Article of Honda R&D Technical Review Vol.20 No.2 (132 - 140)

PDF

Citation Information