ALUMINUM ALLOY FOR SLIDE BEARING, AND SLIDE BEARING

Abstract

An aluminum alloy for a slide bearing of the present invention contains: 0 mass % or more and 10.0 mass % or less of Sn and 0 mass % or more and 5.0 mass % or less of Si, 0 mass % or more and 2.0 mass % or less of Cu as a solid-solution strengthening component, at least one of 0.05 mass % or more and 0.35 mass % or less of Cr, 0.05 mass % or more and 1.5 mass % or less of Mn, and 0.05 mass % or more and 0.3 mass % or less of Zr as a precipitation strengthening component, 2.3 mass % or more and 6.0 mass % or less of Ag, a part of which is dissolved to form a solid solution and the rest of which is precipitated, and the balance consisting of unavoidable impurities and Al.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. An aluminum alloy for a slide bearing, comprising: more than 0 mass % and 10.0 mass % or less of Sn and more than 0 mass % and 5.0 mass % or less of Si; 0 mass % or more and 2.0 mass % or less of Cu as a solid-solution strengthening component; at least one of 0.05 mass % or more and 0.35 mass % or less of Cr, 0.05 mass % or more and 1.5 mass % or less of Mn, and 0.05 mass % or more and 0.3 mass % or less of Zr as a precipitation strengthening component; 2.3 mass % or more and 6.0 mass % or less of Ag, a part of which is dissolved to form a solid solution and the rest of which is precipitated; and the balance consisting of unavoidable impurities and Al.

4. A slide bearing comprising an aluminum alloy layer containing: more than 0 mass % and 10.0 mass % or less of Sn and more than 0 mass % and 5.0 mass % or less of Si; 0 mass % or more and 2.0 mass % or less of Cu as a solid-solution strengthening component; at least one of 0.05 mass % or more and 0.35 mass % or less of Cr, 0.05 mass % or more and 1.5 mass % or less of Mn, and 0.05 mass % or more and 0.3 mass % or less of Zr as a precipitation strengthening component; 2.3 mass % or more and 6.0 mass % or less of Ag, a part of which is dissolved to form a solid solution and the rest of which is precipitated; and the balance consisting of unavoidable impurities and Al.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slide bearing.

[0016] FIGS. 2A to 2F are photographs of a sliding surface after a seizure test.

[0017] FIG. 3A is a phase diagram of an Al—Ag, and FIGS. 3B and 3C are photographs of the sliding surface after the seizure test.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order. [0019] (1) Structure of slide bearing: [0020] (2) Method for manufacturing slide bearing: [0021] (3) Experimental result: [0022] (4) Other embodiments:

(1) Structure of Slide Bearing

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slide bearing 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The slide bearing 1 includes a back metal 10, an intermediate layer 11, and a lining 12. The slide bearing 1 is a half-shaped metallic member obtained by dividing a cylinder into two equal parts in a diametrical direction, and has a semicircular arc shape in cross section. The two slide bearings 1 combined into a cylindrical shape are attached to a connecting rod of an engine for an automobile. A crankshaft as a counter shaft 2 (dot-hatched) is borne in a columnar hollow portion formed by combining the two slide bearings 1. An outer diameter of the counter shaft 2 is formed to be slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the slide bearing 1. A lubricating oil (engine oil) is supplied to a gap formed between an outer peripheral surface of the counter shaft 2 and an inner peripheral surface of the slide bearing 1. The counter shaft 2 rotates about a rotation axis coinciding with a center of curvature of the slide bearing 1. At that time, the outer peripheral surface of the counter shaft 2 slides on the inner peripheral surface of the slide bearing 1.

[0024] The slide bearing 1 has a structure in which the back metal 10, the intermediate layer 11, and the lining 12 are laminated in an order of being distant from the center of curvature. Thus, the back metal 10 constitutes an outermost layer of the slide bearing 1, and the lining 12 constitutes an innermost layer of the slide bearing 1. The back metal 10, the intermediate layer 11, and the lining 12 each have a constant thickness in a circumferential direction. The back metal 10 has a thickness of 2 mm, the intermediate layer 11 has a thickness of 0.05 mm, and the lining 12 has a thickness of 0.35 mm. A radius of a surface on a curvature center side of the lining 12 (the inner diameter of the slide bearing 1) is 50 mm.

[0025] A shape of the slide bearing 1 may be determined according to shapes of the connecting rod, the counter shaft 2 and the like. A width of the slide bearing 1 may be any value ranging from 10 to 300 mm, an outer diameter of the slide bearing 1 may be any value ranging from 25 to 1000 mm, and a thickness of the entire slide bearing 1 may be any value ranging from 0.5 to 18 mm. A thickness of the lining 12 may be any value ranging from 0.05 to 10 mm, and a thickness of the intermediate layer 11 may be any value ranging from 0.01 to 2 mm. Hereinafter, the term “inner side” means a curvature center side of the slide bearing 1, and the term “outer side” means a side opposite to the center of curvature of the slide bearing 1. An inner surface of the lining 12 constitutes the sliding surface for the counter shaft 2.

[0026] The back metal 10 is formed of low-carbon steel containing 0.15 mass % of C, 0.06 mass % of Mn, and the balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities. It suffices that the back metal 10 is formed of a material that can support a load from the counter shaft 2 via the lining 12, and the back metal 10 may not necessarily be formed of steel.

[0027] The intermediate layer 11 is a layer laminated on an inner side of the back metal 10 and on an outer side of the lining 12. The intermediate layer 11 is formed of an aluminum alloy. Specifically, the intermediate layer 11 is formed of an aluminum alloy containing 3 mass % of Cu, 0.1 mass % of Zr, and the balance consisting of Al and unavoidable impurities.

[0028] The lining 12 is a layer laminated on an inner side of the intermediate layer 11, and is formed of the aluminum alloy for a slide bearing of the present invention. That is, the lining 12 is formed by molding the aluminum alloy for a slide bearing of the present invention.

[0029] The lining 12 contains 7.0 mass % of Sn, 1.0 mass % of Si, 1.5 mass % of Cu, 1.1 mass % of Mn, 3.0 mass % of Ag, and the balance consisting of Al and unavoidable impurities. The unavoidable impurities of the lining 12 are Zn, V, Fe, Ti, B, and the like, and are impurities mixed in refining or scrapping. A content of the unavoidable impurities is 0.5 mass % or less as a whole. Masses of the elements constituting each of the layers of the slide bearing 1 were measured by an ICP emission spectroscopic analyzer (ICPS-8100 manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation).

[0030] In the lining 12, Sn is dispersed as a soft material, and can improve conformability. In the lining 12, Si alone constitutes a hard material, and can improve wear resistance. In the lining 12, Cu is dissolved in the matrix to form a solid solution, and functions as the solid-solution strengthening component. In the lining 12, Mn is precipitated as an Al—Mn compound, and functions as the precipitation strengthening component. In the lining 12, a part of Ag is precipitated alone, and a part of the rest thereof is dissolved in the matrix to form a solid solution and functions as the solid-solution strengthening component.

[0031] FIGS. 2A to 2F each show a distribution of each alloy element on the surface (sliding surface) of the lining 12 after a seizure test. FIGS. 2A to 2F are images obtained by imaging the same observation region on the lining 12, and the brighter the color, the higher the concentration of the corresponding alloy element.

[0032] The seizure test was performed by relatively moving the lining 12 and a contact member (hardened steel) in a state where the contact member was in contact with the lining 12. A normal load acting between the contact member and the lining 12 was stepped up by 3 kN to a maximum of 45 kN. A retention time for each step was set to 3 minutes and an overall test time was set to 15 minutes. In addition, the lining 12 was rotationally moved so that a relative moving speed between the contact member and the lining 12 was 20 m/min. In the seizure test, engine oil (0W-20) at 140° C. was supplied to a contact portion between the lining 12 and the contact member.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2F, Ag is distributed at a location where the alloy elements (Sn, Si, Cu, and Mn), other than Ag and Al, contained in the lining 12 are not present. Therefore, it can be understood that a part of Ag was precipitated alone in the lining 12. Further, Ag and S are both distributed at a location indicated by an arrow T1 in FIGS. 2C and 2E. From this, it can be understood that Ag.sub.2S (silver sulfide) was formed by combining Ag precipitated on the sliding surface with S contained in the lubricating oil in the seizure test.

[0034] Ag.sub.2S is easily formed at a portion heated to a high temperature by frictional heat. Even in a portion where Ag is precipitated, it is considered that Ag.sub.2S is not formed at a location where generation of frictional heat is suppressed. In FIG. 2C, Ag is distributed at a location indicated by arrow T2, but in FIG. 2E, distribution of S is not observed at the location indicated by arrow T2. It is considered that, since the location indicated by the arrow T2 was close to soft Sn, generation of frictional heat was suppressed, and thus that Ag.sub.2S was not formed. On the other hand, at the portion indicated by the arrow T1, it is considered that the generation of frictional heat was promoted because it was close to Si as hard particles, and thus that Ag.sub.2S was formed.

[0035] In the embodiment described above, a part of Ag in the lining 12 is dissolved to form a solid solution, and the rest thereof is precipitated. Ag.sub.2S (silver sulfide) can be formed on a sliding surface by combining the precipitated Ag with S contained in a lubricating oil. The Ag.sub.2S is thinly extended on the sliding surface, thereby making it possible to reduce frictional resistance and to improve non-adhesiveness. In particular, since Ag.sub.2S is easily formed at a portion heated to a high temperature by frictional heat, seizure can be effectively reduced.

[0036] In the present embodiment, Ag.sub.2S can be formed on the sliding surface at a location where soft Sn does not exist and hard Si exists, that is, a location where frictional heat is likely to occur and seizure is likely to occur. Since a part of Ag that has not been precipitated functions as the solid-solution strengthening component, the hardness of the lining 12 can be increased.

(2) Method for Manufacturing Slide Bearing

[0037] In the present embodiment, the slide bearing 1 is manufactured by sequentially performing the steps of a. melting, b. continuous casting, c. cold rolling, d. natural cooling, e. cutting, and f. machining.

[0038] The respective steps will be described below.

[0039] a. Melting

[0040] First, ingots formed of elements are weighed and prepared such that an amount of Sn is 7.0 mass %, an amount of Si is 1.0 mass %, an amount of Cu is 1.5 mass %, an amount of Mn is 1.1 mass %, an amount of Ag is 3.0 mass %, and the balance Al. Each ingot was then heated to 850° C. by means of a high-frequency induction furnace. As a result, a molten material of the lining 12 is formed. Thereafter, bubbles of Ar gas were dispersed and ejected to remove hydrogen gas and inclusions.

[0041] b. Continuous Casting

[0042] Next, the molten material of the lining 12 is injected into a mold, and the molten material of the lining 12 is pulled out from an opening of the mold in a casting direction to form a continuously-cast sheet of the lining 12. A thickness of the continuously-cast sheet of the lining 12 formed by continuous casting was set to 3 to 20 mm.

[0043] c. Cold Rolling

[0044] Next, the continuously-cast sheet of the lining 12 is cold-rolled until the thickness of the lining 12 is reached. In this cold rolling, work hardening is prevented by repeatedly performing annealing in a range of 325 to 375° C. The continuously-cast sheet of the lining 12 may not necessarily be rolled by cold rolling, but may be rolled by hot rolling. In addition, together with the continuously-cast sheet of the lining 12, an aluminum alloy sheet of the intermediate layer 11 is cold-rolled to pressure-bond (adhere) the continuously-cast sheet of the lining 12 and the aluminum alloy sheet of the intermediate layer 11. The aluminum alloy sheet of the intermediate layer 11 was manufactured by performing continuous casting and rolling in the same manner as the continuously-cast sheet of the lining 12. Furthermore, a low-carbon steel sheet (commercial product) of the back metal 10 was also cold-rolled to pressure-bond the low-carbon steel sheet of the back metal 10 to the aluminum alloy sheet side of the intermediate layer 11. By the above operations, a rolled sheet of the slide bearing 1 in which the continuously-cast sheet of the lining 12, the aluminum alloy sheet of the intermediate layer 11, and the low-carbon steel sheet of the back metal 10 were pressure-bonded was formed.

[0045] d. Natural Cooling

[0046] Next, the rolled sheet of the slide bearing 1 is left at room temperature and naturally cooled.

[0047] e. Cutting

[0048] Next, the rolled sheet of the slide bearing 1 is cut into pieces of a predetermined size. The predetermined size is a size at which the slide bearing 1 can be formed by performing machining described later, and which is determined according to a shape of the connecting rod to which the slide bearing 1 is attached.

[0049] f. Machining

[0050] Finally, the rolled sheet of the slide bearing 1 after cutting is pressed to form the slide bearing 1 having a half-split shape. Furthermore, the slide bearing 1 is completed by finishing the shape and surface condition through cutting.

(3) Experimental Result

[0051] FIG. 3A is a phase diagram of Al—Ag. From the phase diagram in this figure, it can be understood that, in the Al—Ag alloy, when a content of Ag is less than 2.3 mass %, the entire amount of Ag is dissolved in Al to form a solid solution, and, when the content of Ag is 2.3 mass % or more, the entire amount of Ag cannot be dissolved in Al to form a solid solution, and a part thereof is precipitated. Briefly, it can be understood that 2.3 mass % is a lower limit value of the content of Ag that can be precipitated alone.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Solid- solution Precipitation strengthening strengthening Precipitation component component of Ag Sn Si Cu Cr Mn Zr Ag Al alone Sample 7 1 1.5 0 1.1 0 3 Balance Precipitated 1 mass % mass % mass % mass % mass % mass % mass % Sample 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.3 Balance Precipitated 2 mass % mass % mass % mass % mass % mass% mass % Sample 7 5 2 0.35 1.5 0.3 4 Balance Precipitated 3 mass % mass % mass % mass % mass % mass % mass %

[0052] Table 1 is a table showing results of confirming whether or not Ag was precipitated alone for Samples 1 to 3. Sample 1 is the same as the first embodiment in terms of the lining 12, and Ag could be confirmed to be precipitated alone.

[0053] Sample 2 is a sample in which a content of Cu that is dissolved, together with Ag, in Al to form a solid solution is 0 mass %, and the content of Ag is suppressed to 2.3 mass %, which is the lower limit value of the content of Ag that can be precipitated alone. In Sample 2, since the component dissolved in Al to form a solid solution is only Ag, it can be said that Ag is the alloy composition which is most easily dissolved to form a solid solution. Also in such Sample 2, Ag could be confirmed to be precipitated alone on the surface of the lining 12, as shown in FIG. 3B. Therefore, it is considered that Ag is precipitated alone in the alloy composition of the present invention in which the content of Ag is 2.3 mass % or more.

[0054] Sample 3 is a sample containing Cr, Mn, and Zr as the precipitation strengthening components up to the upper limit values of the ranges of the present invention. Since Sample 3 has the largest amount of a precipitate containing Cr, Mn, and Zr, it can be said that Sample 3 has an alloy composition in which Ag is most hardly precipitated. Also in such Sample 3, Ag could be confirmed to be precipitated alone on the surface of the lining 12, as shown in FIG. 3C. Therefore, it is considered that Ag is precipitated alone in the alloy composition of the present invention in which the contents of Cr, Mn, and Zr are equal to or less than the contents thereof in Sample 3.

(4) Other Embodiments

[0055] In the above embodiment, the slide bearing 1 formed of the aluminum alloy for a slide bearing of the present invention is used as the connecting rod, but the intended use of the slide bearing 1 is not limited to the connecting rod. For example, a thrust bearing may be formed of the aluminum alloy for a slide bearing of the present invention. In the slide bearing 1, an overlay may be formed on the lining 12, and the overlay may be a metal layer or a resin layer.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0056] 1 Slide bearing [0057] 2 Counter shaft [0058] 10 Back metal [0059] 11 Intermediate layer [0060] 12 Lining