PRECIPITATION HARDENABLE ALUMINUM BASED Al-Sn-Si-Cu-Mg-V BEARING ALLOY

摘要

A bearing (20) for automotive engine applications having an exceptional combination of high fatigue strength and ductility includes a base layer (22) bonded to a backing layer (26). The base layer (22) is formed of a precipitation hardened aluminum alloy including tin, silicon, copper, magnesium, and vanadium, and the backing layer (26) is typically formed of steel. The bearing (20) is formed by roll casting the aluminum alloy to form the base layer (22), and then hot bonding the base layer (22) to the backing layer (26). After the base layer (22) is bonded to the backing layer (26), the base layer (22) is heat treated, preferably in a fluidized bed using a T4 tempering process, to form M_g2Si precipitates (24).