A preliminary study on laser surface texturing of passenger car engine piston rings

Laser surface texturing offers a possible solution for reducing friction between sliding surfaces in engineering applications. Optimized surface topography can also contribute to reduced wear and elevated longevity by modifying the load and speed-dependent friction state in a system. This preliminary experimental study investigates the applicability of affordable fibre laser marking systems for microtexturing piston rings, in order to achieve a measurable reduction in friction under subsystem model conditions. A selection of textures are applied to chromium-coated cast iron piston rings. The resulting surface topographies are characterized through confocal microscopy and subjected to friction testing. A correlation analysis is conducted on surface topography parameters to identify key laser process parameters. Findings indicate an improvement in the range of 7-8% in terms of friction coefficient with appropriate texture size.