Wear Resistance of Spark Ignition Engine Piston Rings in Hydrogen-Containing Environments

We describe the external and internal hydrogen interaction on contacting surfaces in the cylinder-piston rings friction coupling. Under the influence of high temperatures and pressure, the oil in the combustion chamber at a temperature up to 1473 K decomposes and forms small amounts of water. External hydrogen (H-2) is subsequently formed. Hydrogen removal from the piston rings reduces the heterogeneity of the structure, residual stresses, and uneven physical and chemical properties of the near-surface layers, which reduces the stress concentration and, as a consequence, results in an improvement in the performance characteristics of the surface layers of the friction couple cylinder-piston rings of the spark ignition engine.

Automated summary

Under high temperature and pressure, oil in the combustion chamber decomposes to form water and external hydrogen. Removing hydrogen from the piston rings can improve the performance characteristics of the friction couple.