DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON COATING FOR ALUMINUM-390 ALLOY - AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

In an attempt to increase the wear resistance of automotive powertrain components, General Motors Research and Development Center initiated a study, to determine the potential of surface modification as a means of improving the tribological properties of highly eutectic aluminum allows, and to investigate feasibility of their mass production. In pa rticular, plasma Immersion ion implantation technique was employed to develop diamond-like hydrocarbon coating of aluminum 390 alloy and the coating's performance was verified both in a bench and, in an engine dynamometer test. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.