Nanoslide twin-wire arc spraying moving from AMG to series-production Mercedes-Benz diesel engines; reduced friction and lower fuel consumption
31 August 2011
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| Nanoslide uses twin-wire arc spraying to melt iron/carbon wires and spray the material onto the internal cylinder wall. Final finishing resulting in a mirror-like surface with fine pores. Click to enlarge. |
After five years and use exclusively in AMG engines, twin-wire arc spraying technology will now also be used in the series production of Mercedes-Benz diesel engines to reduce friction and increase wear resistance. Mercedes-Benz was the developer of what is now known as Nanoslide technology.
The Nanoslide procedure melts wires of iron/carbon alloy in an electric arc; the melted material is deposited onto the cylinder wall by a gasflow as a layered, ultra-fine to nano-crystalline coating. The Nanoslide coating is then given an extremely smooth finish by a special honing process, after which it has a thickness of only 0.1 to 0.15 millimeters and has a mirror-like surface.
The honing process also exposes pores in the material which are able to retain oil and thereby ensure optimal lubrication of the piston assembly. The result is not only low friction, and therefore greatly reduced mechanical friction losses compared to grey cast-iron cylinder liners (up to 50%), but also extremely high wear resistance.
Other advantages include lower engine weight, less fuel consumption and lower emissions.
In July 2005 Mercedes-AMG GmbH presented a 6.3 L V8 which was the world’s first series production engine to feature cylinder walls with a twin-wire arc sprayed coating. Since 2006 this cutting-edge cylinder coating technology has been a key component of all 6.3-liter AMG engines. The procedure has proved highly successful in more than 75,000 high-performance AMG engines to date. The Nanoslide process involves numerous new inventions and ideas, and is protected by more than 90 patent families and over 40 patents.
Mercedes-Benz now is the first manufacturer to have further developed this technology for use in a V6 diesel engine.
Mercedes-Benz uses the collective term BlueEFFICIENCY to describe a range of different measures designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions: sophisticated aerodynamics, weight-saving measures and intelligent control of ancillary units are a few examples. Nanoslide now becomes part of the BlueEFFICIENCY portfolio.
Nanoslide reduces the engine weight by 4.3 kilograms compared to the preceding engine, and brings an additional fuel saving of 3%. The V6 diesel engine in the ML 350 BlueTEC, for example, develops an output of 190 kW (258 hp) from a displacement of 2987 cc, and generates 620 N·m (457 lb-ft) of torque. With BlueTEC with AdBlue exhaust treatment, this M-Class model already meets the emission values planned for 2014 in accordance with the Euro-6 standard. With a combined consumption of 6.8 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (35 mpg US), the ML 350 BlueTEC improves on the figures of its predecessor by 2.1 liters, or 24%. CO2 emissions have dropped from 235 to 179 grams per kilometer, in part due to the new Nanoslide technology.
Strange coincidence to see all the ICE vehicles improved in the last 3 years or so. Had we continued with the EV1 20 years ago, today's ICE cars could probably to 60+ mpg.
It is still a dying technology.
Posted by: HarveyD | 31 August 2011 at 11:26 AM
The Artemis hydraulic hybrid technology controlled by Bosch_Rexroth could be combine with this technology and save much additional money. Or Autobahn speeds reduced could have the same effect. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 02 September 2011 at 09:38 PM
Moto Guzzi used chrome plating on aluminum cylinders from the late seventies to good effect.
I was suprised at how well the high mileage, but low stressed engine performed from the perspective of utility.
There are many clever offerings available and hindsight is a great teacher.
The pity is that so much 'corporate memory' is lost intergenerationally through undervaluing history or placing too much emphasis on cheaper options that cost dearly in the medium to longer term.
It will indeed be a better world when the 'new gen' electronic engineers can deliver efficient reliable and simple solutions with efficiency meaning a bit more than speeding the cash flow via ubiquitous consumption and
waste of (non renewable) resources.
Posted by: Arnold | 10 September 2011 at 03:30 PM