Surface Engineering Development Trends and Impact of Surface Coatings and Textures on Automotive Powertrain Friction and Wear Control

Abstract

Abstract The global automotive industry is facing higher energy costs, more legislative pressure, and an ever-increasing environmental awareness to achieve fuel efficiency and environmental sustainability. In recent years the automotive industry has undergone a revolution in hardware and materials. Among these approaches, engine friction reduction and wear control by surface engineering are the most effective approaches. In this paper, surface engineering and its impact of surface coatings and texture technologies on powertrain components will be reviewed. Recently the lightweight nonferrous alloy and nanocomposites are being incorporated into the emerging powertrain technologies—including a wide range of surface coating materials such as thermal sprayed aluminum liners, diamond-like carbon-coated valve train components, and hard nitride piston rings or composite coatings toward energy-efficient and wear-resistant systems. The major section of this paper will discuss the future development trends of engine friction reduction and wear control by surface modification such as friction-reducing and wear-resistant coatings or surface textures in powertrain components. The impact of surface coatings or surface textures on tribological characteristics will be reviewed. Specifically, this review paper will address the impact of these emerging technologies on engine material requirements. The connection between surface engineering and the emerging powertrain technologies will be described. In summary, this paper will review the impact of emerging surface engineering technologies on tribological performance and future trends for advanced powertrain components. In addition, the bench and engine wear and scuffing assessments will be reviewed in terms of wear and scuffing resistance for a variety of surface coatings or textures applied to engine components. This paper also addresses the interactions between powertrain components and surface coatings or textures and their effects on friction, wear, and engine durability. The increasing importance of surface coatings and textures in engine component design and tribological performance will be fully illustrated.