Improved Aluminium Alloy for Engine Applications

Comalco Research has examined the wear mechanisms occurring in aluminium alloys under a variety of conditions and various alloy structures. The knowledge gained from these investigations has been used to develop a new high strength wear resistant alloy designated 3HA. Although the properties of the alloy make it suitable for a variety of wearing applications, it is especially suited to the production of unlinered aluminium engine blocks. To fully establish the suitability of the alloy for this application, dynamometer tests of both two-stroke and four-stroke engines have been carried out, Initial results of these tests have been extremely encouraging, with a set of 3HA four-stroke cylinder liners lasting over four times the prescribed duration of the severe cold scuff test.