DEVELOPMENT OF BENCH TEST METHODS FOR THE EVALUATION OF ION-IMPLANTEDMATERIALS - PISTON BORE APPLICATION/

We report the progress made in developing novel bench test methods tha t will eventually facilitate the evaluation of materials modified by i on implantation or surface coatings. The friction related to engine pi ston and bore materials under limited lubrication conditions is used a s a starting point for the overall investigation. Two types of tribome ters, pin-on-disk and Cameron-Plint machines, have been used and shown to be suitable and complementary to each other. With this approach, w e have studied the scuffing-related friction behavior of aluminum 390 alloy and cast iron used in the engine cylinders. We show that under s uitable lubrication and load conditions these tribometers not only off er means of understanding material interactions which will assist in t he selection of better implants, but also provide a quick screening me thod necessary for the development of new surface modification techniq ues.