Abstract: A composite article configured for mitigating noise, vibration, and harshness includes a substrate having a first stiffness. The composite article includes a structural film formed from a composition and disposed on the substrate in a pattern that is arranged to dampen a sound wave having a first frequency and a first amplitude and propagatable in a first direction to a second frequency that is less than the first frequency and a second amplitude that is less than the first amplitude. The composite article includes a coating layer disposed on the pattern and configured to dampen the sound wave in the first direction and in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The composite article has a second stiffness that is greater than the first stiffness. A method of forming the composite article is also described.

Abstract: An integrated power electronics component configured for mitigating noise, vibration, and harshness includes a case formed from metal and configured to dampen a sound wave having a first frequency and a first amplitude and propagatable in a first direction. The case has a first surface and a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, a first stiffness, and a first strength, and the first and second surfaces include a structure defining a plurality of recessions therein. The component includes a cured polymer formed from a composition disposed on at least one of the first and second surfaces in each of the recessions to thereby dampen the sound wave in the first direction and in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction to a second frequency that is less than the first frequency and a second amplitude that is less than the first amplitude.

Abstract: A cylinder block for use in an internal combustion engine includes a first and second cylinder bores, a first and second cylinder bore liners, and a Siamese insert. The first and second cylinder bores are disposed adjacent to each other. The first and second cylinder bores each comprise a first cylinder bore wall and a second cylinder bore wall, respectively, and a shared cylinder bore wall. The first cylinder bore liner is disposed on a first inner surface of the first cylinder bore wall and the second cylinder bore liner is disposed on a second inner surface of the second cylinder bore wall. The Siamese insert is disposed in a top portion of the shared cylinder bore wall.

Abstract: A cylinder block for use in an internal combustion engine includes a first and second cylinder bores, a first and second cylinder bore liners, and a Siamese insert. The first and second cylinder bores are disposed adjacent to each other. The first and second cylinder bores each comprise a first cylinder bore wall and a second cylinder bore wall, respectively, and a shared cylinder bore wall. The first cylinder bore liner is disposed on a first inner surface of the first cylinder bore wall and the second cylinder bore liner is disposed on a second inner surface of the second cylinder bore wall. The Siamese insert is disposed in a top portion of the shared cylinder bore wall.

Abstract: An engine block, an automotive structure, and a method of coating an inner surface of an engine cylinder bore of an engine cylinder are provided. The method includes providing an inner bore substrate defining an inner surface of the engine cylinder bore, the inner bore substrate being formed of a first material. The method further includes disposing a thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the engine cylinder bore. The thermal spray coating is formed of a second material that is different than the first material. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the thermal spray coating with a laser after performing the step of disposing the thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the engine cylinder bore. The automotive structure and the engine block have a substrate covered by a thermal spray coating and laser remelted sections anchoring the coating to the substrate.

Abstract: A tool insert includes first, second, and third teeth arranged on a surface of the tool insert. The first tooth is arranged at a proximal end of the tool insert surface and has an angled leading end and a first tooth height. The second tooth is spaced from the first tooth by a first distance along the surface of the tool insert and has a second tooth height greater than the first tooth height. The third tooth is spaced from the second tooth by a second distance along the surface of the tool insert and has an extending angled portion. The first tooth forms a first groove in a bore surface. The second tooth increases the depth of the first groove. The third tooth provides at least one micro-scratch to one of the first groove and the bore surface.

Abstract: An integrated power electronics component configured for mitigating noise, vibration, and harshness includes a case formed from metal and configured to dampen a sound wave having a first frequency and a first amplitude and propagatable in a first direction. The case has a first surface and a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, a first stiffness, and a first strength, and the first and second surfaces include a structure defining a plurality of recessions therein. The component includes a cured polymer formed from a composition disposed on at least one of the first and second surfaces in each of the recessions to thereby dampen the sound wave in the first direction and in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction to a second frequency that is less than the first frequency and a second amplitude that is less than the first amplitude.

Abstract: A composite article configured for mitigating noise, vibration, and harshness includes a substrate having a first stiffness. The composite article includes a structural film formed from a composition and disposed on the substrate in a pattern that is arranged to dampen a sound wave having a first frequency and a first amplitude and propagatable in a first direction to a second frequency that is less than the first frequency and a second amplitude that is less than the first amplitude. The composite article includes a coating layer disposed on the pattern and configured to dampen the sound wave in the first direction and in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The composite article has a second stiffness that is greater than the first stiffness. A method of forming the composite article is also described.

Abstract: An improved surface activation technique improves the adhesion of thermal spray coatings, which is useful for engine cylinder bores. The new method includes compressing the cylinder bore surface to create a surface profile on the surface, such as through rolling a roller along the surface. An engine block is also provided, which includes a plurality of cylinder bores, each cylinder bore having an inner surface, and each inner surface having a surface profile that includes a helical groove and other surface profiles formed in the inner surface. A thermal spray coating is formed on the inner surface of each cylinder bore, the thermal spray coating being adhered to the surface profile of the inner surface. A roller assembly for activating the surface is also provided.

Abstract: A system for inspecting thermal spray coated cylinder bores of aluminum alloy cylinder blocks, the system includes a failure detection apparatus, a heating apparatus, a cooling apparatus, and a control unit in electronic communication with each of the failure detection apparatus, the heating apparatus, and the cooling apparatus, and wherein the control unit includes a memory and a control logic sequence for operating the system.

Abstract: An engine block and a method of coating an inner surface of an engine cylinder bore of an engine cylinder are provided. The method includes attaching a strengthening layer or ring onto an upper portion of the inner surface of the cylinder bore. The strengthening layer or ring may be attached by laser cladding. The method also includes depositing a thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the cylinder bore and the strengthening layer or ring.

Abstract: Engine block assemblies and methods for making the same are provided. Methods include casting an engine block around one or more extruded aluminum cylindrical cylinder liners, wherein each cylinder liner includes a cylindrical inner surface and an outer surface, and the outer surface of each of the cylinder liners is contiguous with the engine block and defines a cylinder bore, subsequently surface-preparing the inner surface of each of the cylinder liners, subsequently applying a ferrous liner to an inner side of each of the cylinder liners via thermal spraying, and subsequently machining an inner surface of the ferrous liner. Each of the aluminum cylinder liners are extruded, and can comprise a low silicon content aluminum alloy. The engine block can comprise a high silicon content aluminum alloy. Each of the one or more ferrous liners comprises a thickness of less than about 175 microns.

Abstract: A method of coating an inner surface of an engine cylinder bore includes cleaning the surface to remove carbon, resulting in the surface having a maximum of 30 atomic percent carbon, texturing the surface to achieve a developed interfacial area ratio of at least 100%, and heating the surface to between 100-200 degrees Celsius. A thermal spray coating is then adhered to the surface. In some cases, a force of 25+ Newtons scratched across the thermal spray coating is required to remove the thermal spray coating from the surface. Maximum adhesion strength is achieved when the coating is applied to: 1) a heated surface that has 2) an Sdr of at least 100% and 3) a maximum of 20 atomic percent of carbon on the surface. When these three criteria are all present, adhesion strength can be 50 Newtons or more with evidence of metallurgical diffusion/bonding at the interface.

Abstract: An improved substrate surface texture i.e., roughness, significantly improves the adhesion of thermal spray coatings. The surface texture is defined by two metrology parameters and the invention comprehends a range of average roughness (Sa) between 9 and 15 ?m and developed interfacial area ratio (Sdr) of greater than 100%. This surface texture is achieved by methods such as water jet erosion, mechanical roughening, laser texturing, chemical etching and plasma etching. The surface texture is especially beneficial for walls of cylinders of internal combustion engines, hydraulic cylinders and similar components to which a thermal spray coating is adhered and which are exposed to sliding or frictional wear.

Abstract: An engine block, an automotive structure, and a method of coating an inner surface of an engine cylinder bore of an engine cylinder are provided. The method includes providing an inner bore substrate defining an inner surface of the engine cylinder bore, the inner bore substrate being formed of a first material. The method further includes disposing a thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the engine cylinder bore. The thermal spray coating is formed of a second material that is different than the first material. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the thermal spray coating with a laser after performing the step of disposing the thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the engine cylinder bore. The automotive structure and the engine block have a substrate covered by a thermal spray coating and laser remelted sections anchoring the coating to the substrate.

Abstract: A tool insert includes first, second, and third teeth arranged on a surface of the tool insert. The first tooth is arranged at a proximal end of the tool insert surface and has an angled leading end and a first tooth height. The second tooth is spaced from the first tooth by a first distance along the surface of the tool insert and has a second tooth height greater than the first tooth height. The third tooth is spaced from the second tooth by a second distance along the surface of the tool insert and has an extending angled portion. The first tooth forms a first groove in a bore surface. The second tooth increases the depth of the first groove. The third tooth provides at least one micro-scratch to one of the first groove and the bore surface.

Abstract: An engine block and a method of coating an inner surface of an engine cylinder bore of an engine cylinder are provided. The method includes attaching a strengthening layer or ring onto an upper portion of the inner surface of the cylinder bore. The strengthening layer or ring may be attached by laser cladding. The method also includes depositing a thermal spray coating onto the inner surface of the cylinder bore and the strengthening layer or ring.

Abstract: An improved surface activation technique improves the adhesion of thermal spray coatings, which is useful for engine cylinder bores. The new method includes compressing the cylinder bore surface to create a surface profile on the surface, such as through rolling a roller along the surface. An engine block is also provided, which includes a plurality of cylinder bores, each cylinder bore having an inner surface, and each inner surface having a surface profile that includes a helical groove and other surface profiles formed in the inner surface. A thermal spray coating is formed on the inner surface of each cylinder bore, the thermal spray coating being adhered to the surface profile of the inner surface. A roller assembly for activating the surface is also provided.

Abstract: A method of treating the surface of an aluminum-based engine block cylinder bore that has been mechanically roughened. In one form, this method includes using vibratory stress relief, elevated temperature stress relief or cryogenic stress relief so that residual stresses imparted to the surface by the roughening process are reduced. In this way, a protective coating that is also applied to the bore surface will exhibit better adhesion and lower incidence of stress-induced or fatigue-induced cracking.

Abstract: An improved substrate surface texture i.e., roughness, significantly improves the adhesion of thermal spray coatings. The surface texture is defined by two metrology parameters and the invention comprehends a range of average roughness (Sa) between 9 and 15 ?m and developed interfacial area ratio (Sdr) of greater than 100%. This surface texture is achieved by methods such as water jet erosion, mechanical roughening, laser texturing, chemical etching and plasma etching. The surface texture is especially beneficial for walls of cylinders of internal combustion engines, hydraulic cylinders and similar components to which a thermal spray coating is adhered and which are exposed to sliding or frictional wear.