The Reduction of Piston-Ring and Cylinder Wear

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The Reduction of Piston-Ring and Cylinder Wear

Teetor, Macy O.

THE elimination of wear of piston-rings and cylinders can be the ultimate goal toward which to strive but, in reaching this Utopia if it can be reached, the most practical road seems to be by way of wear reduction.Many factors indicate the necessity for a “wear-in” period. At some point in service wear-in ceases and “wear-out” starts. As wear-in takes place, performance only improves to a certain point and, from there on, piston-rings and cylinders can be considered as wearing out.The rubbing action of a piston-ring on a cylinder wall breaks particles loose from the surfaces that act as an abrasive. This breakdown of the rubbing surfaces, regenerative because of the abrasive action of the resulting loose material, causes wear. The ease with which the surface of a material will break down and the physical characteristics of the loose particles so produced are indicated to a great extent by structure.The structure of a material is therefore an indication of expected wear.