Abstract: The present invention relates to a piston ring for an internal combustion engine, the piston ring comprises a sulphide rich compound layer forming a surface layer, said sulphide rich compound layer comprising an iron nitride matrix with iron sulphide (FeS) inclusions embedded in said matrix, said sulphide rich compound layer having a sulphur content of 1 to 4 wt % S and a nitrogen content of 10 to 20 wt % N.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a sliding bearing (10) comprising a back metal layer (12), a bearing layer (14) applied to the back metal layer (12), a diffusion barrier layer (16) applied to the bearing layer (14) and a tin-based overlay (18a) applied to the diffusion barrier layer (16), characterized in that the diffusion barrier layer consists of one pure nickel layer (16a) applied to the bearing layer (14) and one a silver-based layer (16b) applied to the pure nickel layer (16a).

Abstract: The invention relates to a piston ring for internal combustion engines, the piston ring comprises a steel or cast iron base material with a coating of chromium nitride deposited by a physical vapor deposition process on a sliding surface of the piston ring, wherein the coating is composed of a columnar crystal structure of CrN with the following features: (a) an oxygen content in solid solution of 0.5 to 2.5 wt %; (b) a content of uniformly dispersed micro-pores of less than 10% in volume of the coating; and (c) an X-ray diffraction intensity ratio of (111) planes to (200) planes parallel to the surface in the range of 0.80 to 1.20.

Abstract: A piston ring for internal combustion engines with a coating of Chromium nitride (CrN) deposited by a physical vapor deposition process on a sliding surface with a typical crystal structure of CrN phase, has a high wear resistance and superior resistance to the generation of micro-cracks and consequent localized loss of pieces of the coating. The coating is a columnar crystalline coating of CrN having a dispersed pore content lower than 10% in volume and ratio of intensities, measured through x-ray diffraction, between the crystal planes (111) and planes (200), parallel to the surface, in the range of 0.40 to 0.70. This crystalline distribution is obtained through an oxygen content impregnated in the CrN coating between 1.0% in weight to 7.0% in weight. The Vickers hardness of the film ranges from 1,500 to 2,200 HV.

Abstract: A piston which has a diameter of about 70 to about 100 mm and which is preferably produced with a resistant, malleable alloy having low density (lower than about 3 g/cm.sup.3) and mechanical properties at high temperatures such that a yield stress greater than about 120 Mpa at temperatures of the order of 300.degree. C. to 350.degree. C. is obtained. In the preferred embodiment, the piston is a single piece piston, comprising a head portion of diameter D ranging from about 70 to about 100 mm and a skirt portion downwardly projected from the head portion and inside which is provided a pair of wrist pin bosses, each having a hole with a diameter d and axial extension L for bearing the articulating wrist pin of the piston.