HIGH CONDUCTIVITY PERFORMET® ALLOY ENHANCES AUTOMOTIVE POWERTRAIN APPLICATIONS
PerforMet alloy is a nickel silicide strengthened bronze that has been optimized for automotive powertrain applications. With a combination of high strength, thermal conductivity and friction, wear and corrosion resistance, PerforMet alloy withstands higher pressures and temperatures in high power density engines.
When used to make intake or exhaust valve seats, valve guides and piston rings, high conductivity materials allow heat to pass out of critical components, reducing the likelihood of hot spots. The end result is enhanced engine efficiency, higher performance and long-term reliability – all important considerations whether you need to lower emissions while maintaining the performance of on-highway vehicles or to reach the finish line faster on the track.
IMPROVING ENGINE PERFORMANCE WHITE PAPER
We have just completed a new case study, “Dynamometer Testing of Combustion Chamber Component Materials Designed to Improve Efficiency While Maintaining Engine Performance and Durability.” Read it to see how components made from our specialty automotive alloys and composites stood up in accelerated durability testing at Cosworth U.K. After run times of 150 hours with 96 WOT, seats, guides, connecting rods, small-end bearings and pistons made of our materials showed no signs of wear or deformation.
PERFORMET ALLOY ATTRIBUTES
- High conductivity
- High strength at elevated temperatures
- Corrosion and wear resistance
- Good machinability
PERFORMET ALLOY OUTPERFORMS OTHER CRITICAL POWERTRAIN COMPONENT MATERIALS
In high temperature, high-pressure environments, PerforMet alloy outperforms conventional valve seat, valve guide and piston ring materials.
PerforMet Piston Rings
Making piston rings from a material with high thermal conductivity allows design changes that dramatically improve the efficiency of internal combustion engines. Thermal modeling has shown that, by efficiently transferring heat from the piston into the cylinder wall, PerforMet piston rings reduce average piston temperatures by 22°C (40°F) and piston crown temperatures by 23°C (41°F).
Benefits include:
- Reduced end gas temperature: reduced knock sensitivity
- Reduced piston temperature: longer fatigue life or reduced piston mass
- Lower top ring groove temperature: enables higher groove position, reducing crevice volume
Combined, these benefits can increase power and torque while lowering fuel consumption.
Download the PerforMet alloy data sheet.
PerforMet Valve Guides
Performet alloy is stronger than silicon bronze, yet gentle on titanium or steel shafts, so when used for valve
guides, PerforMet alloy reduces blow by and resists deformation or barreling. In the case of sodium filled valves, PerforMet exhaust valve guides rapidly extract heat from the valve stem.
PerforMet Intake & Exhaust Valve Seats
PerforMet alloy maintains its strength even with long exposure to temperatures up to 427°C (800°F). Valve seats made of PerforMet alloy keep engines on the track running at optimum efficiency longer than those made of other materials. In particular, PerforMet exhaust valve seats keep the valve-seat interface cooler, extending the life of both components.
Read the On-Track Testing Report
We provided MXology, a maker of high-performance engine components for the off-road motorcycle industry, with our advanced alloys and composites so they could create parts to test. MXology designed and introduced components made from PerforMet and other materials into a motocross engine that was used on the track in real races. The results help validate that our materials can enable better results in racing, or more broadly in passenger vehicles. You can read the MXology report on the testing program to learn more about the gains found in performance and reliability.
Talk with our materials engineers to learn more about PerforMet alloy for your next automotive powertrain application.