Author Topic: Sputter bearings (Read 3485 times)

subsonic · « **on:** May 09, 2007, 04:58:07 am »

Any of you ever hear of or use sputter bearings? I read about it on the Kolbenschmidt website. They said it was for higher performance applications.

Jetta Fan · « **Reply #1 on:** May 09, 2007, 05:07:00 am »

Sputtering cars...yes, but not sputter bearings.

Hopefully someone can explain them. I'd like to find out more about them.

jtanguay · « **Reply #2 on:** May 09, 2007, 05:52:41 am »

"High-performance bearings (HGL) - Sputter
Enhanced engine performance calls for materials of significantly increased fatigue strength, lower wear rate in mixed friction operation and good corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures, especially for conrod bearings. Cathode atomizing or sputtering is the method of choice to meet these complex demands. Under high vacuum, extremely fine particles are beaten out of a dispenser. By means of electromagnetic fields, they are uniformly applied to the part to be coated. These magnetron layers distinguish themselves by extremely fine distribution of the individual microstructure components. The basis of this design is the well-known composite bearing made of three materials. The basic design has been retained. The galvanic sliding layer exposed to fatigue and wear is replaced by a sputtered sliding layer. "

hmmm so in essense it's kind of like chrome plating steel...

subsonic · « **Reply #3 on:** May 09, 2007, 09:37:00 am »

Quote from: jtanguay

"High-performance bearings (HGL) - Sputter
Enhanced engine performance calls for materials of significantly increased fatigue strength, lower wear rate in mixed friction operation and good corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures, especially for conrod bearings. Cathode atomizing or sputtering is the method of choice to meet these complex demands. Under high vacuum, extremely fine particles are beaten out of a dispenser. By means of electromagnetic fields, they are uniformly applied to the part to be coated. These magnetron layers distinguish themselves by extremely fine distribution of the individual microstructure components. The basis of this design is the well-known composite bearing made of three materials. The basic design has been retained. The galvanic sliding layer exposed to fatigue and wear is replaced by a sputtered sliding layer. "

hmmm so in essense it's kind of like chrome plating steel...

Did you happen to see if the had any to fit any of the 1.6 0r 1.9 applications?

I did a search here and found they had some for a tdi engine, 115hp I think.

Jetta Fan · « **Reply #4 on:** May 09, 2007, 09:41:48 am »

Interesting. Thanks for the info jtanguay.

mdonau · « **Reply #5 on:** May 09, 2007, 01:08:56 pm »

hi,

these sputter-bearings are used for the TDI-engines with VTG/VNT-turbos, starting with the AFN.

because the oil-pressure and rotation-speed at the rod-bearing is too low, lubrication is not good enough to match the high combustion-pressure on the pistion.

->with high boost at low rpm they are a good idea

for engines with boost spooling up at over 2000 rpm they are not really needed.

greets, michael

subsonic · « **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2007, 01:18:50 pm »

I may have to send a e-mail to KS for the low down on these, and to see if they have a application for the 1.6 and 1.9IDI. It sounds as if these would have a benifit. I wonder if these would help up here in the north where I have to start my car at 0 degrees F, to -20 F.
If these are superior, are they used in any race/autocross applications?