Major Advances in Tribology for Low Heat Rejection Engines: A Ten-Year Overview

In the last decade, Surfaces Research and the U.S. Army have made very significant advances in tribology for high-power-density, low-heat-rejection (LHR) diesel engines. High-temperature tribology issues, which had been major technological hurdles for LHR engine technology, have now been solved. We have developed totally new and economical Group V-based lubricants and self-lubricating coatings in our laboratories. These new lubricants enable reliable, long-term operation of diesel engines with oil sump and engine coolant more than 38°C (100°F) higher than conventional operating temperatures. Over 1300 hours of engine testing have provided detailed data on lubricant and engine component performance at high-temperature, high-BMEP LHR engine conditions.