ALUMINUMSILICON

ENGINEBEARINGS

The new generation

engine bearings that
go the distance

...and then some!

Australian Engineering Excellence

The new generation engine b
New technology Smooth and clean -
enhances proven materials. Aluglide is superior all the way.
Aluminium Tin materials have been around since the 1960’s. It However, BEWARE! Not all Aluminium Tin Silicon bearing
has traditionally been the choice of Japanese and European materials are the same. Look at the photomicrographs below
manufacturers for low load, gas, passenger cars. As the loads and compare the ACL strip cast microstructure to Brand X. The
developed by high horsepower late model engines increased so two are significantly different! The select alloying elements and
too did the need for a stronger bearing material. Copper Lead heat treatments used by ACL have been proven by rigorous OE
Trimetal bearings have been the answer for higher load testing to go the distance, and they are truly lead free.
applications, but as the world becomes more environmentally
conscious, the need for lead free engine components has
increased, without sacrificing the load carrying capacity Photograph 1 Aluglide Photograph 2 Brand X
required for modern engines. The addition of Silicon as an
alloying element to the Aluminium Tin family of bearing
materials has elevated it to the next generation of performance
materials. This is currently the choice of most OE manufacturers
as the global mandate to have Lead free vehicles is enforced. ALLOY
An added benefit of the Aluminium Tin Silicon bearings is the
excellent wear resistance properties, extending the service life
BOND LAYER
of these parts.
STEEL NOTE A NOTE B

Although both structures show the basic features of

typical aluminium tin silicon lining alloys, there are
some significant differences. Specifically:
Note A The Brand X structure is generally coarser than
Aluglide with large intergranular silicon particles. This suggests
a standard casting method (moderate to slow freezing rate)
that would not optimize the distribution of silicon within the
alloy. Unless the freezing rate is extremely rapid (as with
Aluglide) there is only minimal solution of silicon within the
aluminium grains. Also large silicon particles will be exposed at
the bearing surface and act as stress raisers. In both cases the
effect is to reduce the alloy toughness.
Note B Bonding surfaces, particularly between the aluminium
bond layer and the steel are substantially less consistent than
in Aluglide suggesting that bond strength is substantially
compromised.

bearings - smart, strong, tough
ACL - the right choice.
Which material is best? You decide based on your needs.
Bearing Type Characteristic
Strength
Ability to assume prolonged,
high fatigue loads
Anti-Seizure
Conformability
Ability to adapt to assembly
and misalignment errors
Compatibility
Ability to accommodate shaft
to bearing contact through
thin oil films
Emergency Running
Ability to continue operation
during temporary oil film
breakdown
Anti-Wear
Resistance to abrasion by shaft
and dirt.
Embeddability
The ability to absorb dirt
entrained in the oil without
damage to the bearing or shaft
Anti-Corrosion
Ability to withstand chemical
attack from degraded or
contaminated oil
Applications
Duraglide 780
Babbitt overlay (<20HV) is supported by a strong
copper lead alloy (>50HV) in turn supported by
the steel backing. Strength is high as long as the
overlay is thin (<20um)
Very soft Babbitt overlay readily adapts. Copper
lead alloy has moderate conformability and helps
to adapt where shape errors are significant.
Crankshaft journal finish is the dominant factor.
Contact with bearing surface results in
adaptation through wear of the Babbitt layer
with no damage to the shaft.
The lead in the Babbitt and copper-lead alloy has
natural lubricity and can function as a dry
lubricant. The low melting point of the alloy also
allows it to provide a temporary liquid lubricant.
Babbitt alloys are prone to wear (see above),
however the alloy composition is carefully
controlled to optimize the strengthening effects
of copper in turn minimizing the wear potential.
The soft Babbitt readily absorbs all kinds of dirt
particles up to 15um without damage. Larger
particles are accommodated less readily by the
underlying layers.
Tin content in the alloys gives the lead partial
protection from attack. If the bearing is worn to
the copper-lead layer, resistance is minimal.
Duraglide bearings provide a combination of high
strength and the ability to withstand
harsh/demanding operating conditions. This
makes them ideal for performance/race engines
and rebuilds.
ALUMINUMSILICON
ENGINEBEARINGS
Aluglide
Strength is engineered through targeted alloying and
modification of the Aluminium structure particularly with
the addition of Silicon (from 45 to 55HV) . No overlay
means that the load is assumed directly by the alloy and
transmitted through to the steel.
Alloy composition, casting and heat treatment methods
develop exceptional toughness. This enables the alloy to
conform without detriment to strength.
Bearing and shaft interact beneficially. Extra fine silicon
particles at the bearing surface act as a mild polishing
agent that moderates shaft surface roughness. System
adapts to maintain oil film integrity. This is particularly
effective when running against cast iron shafts.
The tin phase of the alloy provides lubricity and low
melting point liquid lubricant but is not as effective as
lead.
The relatively harder surface of the aluminium alloy has
substantially reduced wear. Combined with shaft
interaction (see above), which minimizes shaft abrasion,
wear becomes insignificant.
As the aluminium alloy is substantially softer than shaft
materials, hard particles of all sizes will embed rather than
score the shaft. The toughness of the alloy ensures that
the localized deformation does not compromise strength.
Aluminium tin based alloys are essentially inert to known
contaminants.
Aluglide bearings provide a combination of moderate to
high strength, good seizure resistance and excellent wear
resistance. These bearings are ideally suited to general
purpose applications (passenger cars and light commercial
vehicles) where reliability and long service intervals are
desirable.
Aluglide bearings are highly preferred in modern import
engines that have been designed for aluminium based
bearings as OE standard fitment.
The following graphs show that the material technology incorporated into ACL’s Aluglide material has substantially closed the
performance gaps between Aluminium Silicon based bearing materials and trimetal systems.

Babbitt

Aluminium Tin

Copper Lead Trimetal

Relative Load
Carrying Capacity of Aluglide
Bearing Materials
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Unit Load

Conventional Aluminium

Fatigue Strength Copper Lead Trimetal

Aluglide

0.0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5

Fatigue Rating

Conventional Aluminium

Aluglide

Hardness/Wear Resistance
0 10 20 30 40 50
Hardness Vickers

ACL Bearing Company

253 George Town Road
Rocherlea, Tasmania 7248
T: (03) 6324 4600
Int +61 3 6324 4600
www.acl.com.au F: (03) 6326 6666

Automotive Components Limited Marketing Enquiries

88-90 Nathan Road Adelaide T: 08 8262 9100 F: 08 8262 7516
Dandenong South, Victoria 3175 Brisbane T: 07 3365 0736 F: 07 3268 6662
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Australia only
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