Piston rings

With increasing temperatures, pressures and speeds, piston rings are subjected to ever greater stresses. Concepts for less wear, less friction, improved sealing, and a higher fracture resistance are called for. MAHLE offers a solution.










The MAHLE piston ring program
The MAHLE product range for piston rings offers each engine the optimum piston ring or piston ring set. The broad spectrum provided comprises compression rings and oil scraper rings in all types, profiles and technologies. MAHLE piston rings are suitable for all types of combustion engines with cylinder diameters of 30 to 238 mm. They are produced from cast iron and steel using the latest technologies - and optimized in their performance with electroplated, thermal-sprayed or other new coatings. MAHLE piston rings are equipped for every requirement: whether for reducing the flank wear, longer service intervals, better conformability to the cylinder, reducing oil consumption, or reducing friction.

New solutions for less friction and reduced oil consumption
MAHLE has longstanding experience in the development of innovative piston ring solutions for lower friction. The reduction of ring width and tangential load, combined with coatings with low friction coefficients, provides not only fuel savings but also exceptional wear and scuffing resistance. Since the oil ring has the greatest share in the frictional loss of the ring set, a promising approach to reducing ring set friction is to reduce its tangential load without jeopardizing the oil control and the ability of the ring to conform to deformed bores. To solve these issues, MAHLE offers steel and cast iron rings with more flexible cross sections. The extensive use of state-of-the-art ring simulation as well as engine systems know-how further contribute to offering solutions that comply not only with reduced friction requirements, but also assure good durability and lubricating oil control.

Innovations for emission reduction
In recent years, combustion loads and temperatures in the ring area increased significantly due to the continually more stringent emissions legislation. MAHLE successfully introduced the premium PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition, on nitrided stainless steel) compression rings in the heavy-duty diesel market some years ago. In addition, premium PVD is also being introduced in some very demanding light commercial vehicle engines due to its superb tribological properties. The excellent low wear rate of PVD coating maintains the ring running profile more efficiently and contributes to emission reduction by means of improved lubricating oil consumption control. In line with this trend, MAHLE has developed a high-value PVD ring as a more competitive alternative. This is achieved by applying PVD on a less costly ring material. With this new product, MAHLE emphasizes its ability to offer to its customers worldwide technologically superior products, environmentally friendly, at a competitive price.