Coating protects against bio-fuel damage

A Bekaert Advanced Coatings product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 4, 2007

Bekaert Dylyn Plus coatings effectively address its customers' needs for higher engine output and improved fuel consumption.

Bekaert will present recent test results performed on Bekaert Dylyn Plus coated fingers during Engine Expo 2007, held 8th-10th May, 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany.

Bio-fuel can progressively wear and damage the internal moving components in the engine.

Preventing wear-related damage to bio-diesel driven engine parts is currently a high profile issue in the automotive industry, along with efforts to reduce fuel consumption.

The latest test results from Bekaert demonstrate how Bekaert Dylyn Plus coatings effectively address its customers' needs for higher engine output and improved fuel consumption.

Bekaert in-house testing has been performed on a motorcycle valve train, using a camshaft finger follower configuration.

The test focused on wear and friction behavior of the Bekaert Dylyn Plus automotive DLC coatings.

Uncoated fingers are the current standard reference in the market and typically show signs of wear within 8 hours.

Fingers that were coated with Bekaert Dylyn Plus coatings, however, easily surpassed a 300-hour wear test.

The results of this test indicate that Bekaert Dylyn Plus not only qualifies to current standards, but also exceeds the minimum demands of the market.

This wear resistance establishes Bekaert Dylyn Plus as an appropriate end of life solution for bio-diesel-driven engine components.

As a full solutions provider, Bekaert helps customers to adopt environmentally friendly technology that delivers top performance and a cost-effective return on investment.

Bekaert's researchers also determined that the uncoated counterpart of the coated engine element did not start to wear as a result of the hard Bekaert Dylyn Plus coating.

This observation refuted the myth that an uncoated counterpart (camshaft) will experience wear when paired with a Bekaert Dylyn Plus coated part.

During Bekaert's friction testing at a lower rev/min range, friction was also reduced up to 35% on Bekaert Dylyn Plus coated parts, in comparison to the uncoated finger standard.

This friction reduction translates into reduced consumption of fuel, establishing Bekaert Dylyn Plus coated fingers as a differentiator in the market of bio-diesel-driven engines.

In the light of recent developments in the bio-diesel field, Bekaert's testing results offer positive news for the technical complications that can impact a bio-diesel-driven engine.

Mark Boghe, Product Market Manager Automotive/Racing Bekaert, will elaborate on this topic during his presentation at Engine Expo 2007 entitled "Engine components surface treatments and bio-diesel join forces towards an efficient modern diesel power".

Michael De Maegt, General Manager Bekaert DLC, comments: "Our ongoing research enables us to better serve our customers with solutions that address today's latest technical developments".

"We have been paying close attention to how Bekaert Dylyn Plus coatings can offer added value in the evolution towards more environmentally friendly engine technology".

"Our latest test results prove that Bekaert Dylyn Plus coatings serve as the best qualifiers and differentiators in today's market".