Seizure Failure of Copper-Lead with Overlay and Aluminum-Tin Connecting Rod Bearings

Seizure behavior of copper-lead with overlay, aluminum-tin and aluminum-tin-silicon connecting rod bearings were investigated. Effects of shaft materials and surface quality on seizure load were compared. Seizure between the shaft and the nickel barrier of copper-lead bearings was verified. The failure mechanism of aluminum-tin bearings was proposed to be melting and depletion of tin in the alloy. Inclusion, of large silicon particles in aluminum-tin alloy may trigger early seizure and thus decrease the seizure load. Presented at the 50th Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois May 14–19, 1995