Recently the demands on automobile engines have greatly increased, these demands include better performance and improved energy efficiency and more environmentally friendly materials.
As a result of these demands, the requirements on valve guides in the valve train have increased, not only in regards to greater wear resistance but also in regards to better machinability. In particular, the valve guide tool is now expected to have a longer life, a shorter machining time and a reduction in the revolving energy of the tool.
We, at Hitachi Powdered Metals, in order to answer to these new requirements have improved the machinability sintering valve guide material where, up until now, it has been difficult to improve the machinability and the wear resistance at the same time.