SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- An innovative new
material from Tenneco Inc.'s (NYSE: TEN) Powertrain business group
delivers wear-resistant performance with greatly reduced cobalt
content, helping engine manufacturers mitigate the limited
availability and price volatility of cobalt. Demanding high
temperature applications that typically rely on cobalt to provide
wear resistance in high temperature ranges, such as heavy-duty
turbocharger wastegate bushings, EGR valves, and high performance
engine valve seats will benefit from the new material. Using an
alternative sintered steel formulation, trials have shown that the
cobalt content in Tenneco's sintered materials can be reduced
significantly without compromising wear resistance.
"Potential material shortages and controversy around cobalt
mining, coupled with extreme price volatility, mean we must reduce
our dependence on cobalt," said Gian Maria
Olivetti, Vice President Global Engineering, Tenneco
Powertrain. "While it remains the most effective material to combat
wear in dry running valve seat applications and other components
subjected to big temperature ranges, we have used our extensive
experience in powder metallurgy to develop a low-cobalt sintered
formulation alternative that delivers similar wear properties to
the best current materials."
The application temperatures for bushings in EGR valves,
turbocharger wastegate systems or exhaust-gas valves can range from
below 0°C up to 1000°C, and it is this wide variation that makes
the tribology challenging, as Jens
Wellmann, Tenneco Powertrain product manager for
turbocharger components, explains. "Especially in the lower
temperature range up to ~400°C high-cobalt materials can outperform
the typical non-cobalt materials. The first question we had to
answer was: 'What is the explanation for high-cobalt material's low
wear rates?' And the second question was: 'How much cobalt is
effectively needed to produce that effect?'."
Tenneco's research started from two well-proven existing
sintered products; FM-8100, an iron-based cobalt-free sintered
material, and FM-T95A, a cobalt-based (54% Co by weight) sintered
material comparable to the cast materials used for tribological
applications. Between these two extremes, a total of five materials
with varied cobalt content were evaluated for wear performance
across a range of temperatures. Investigation of the worn specimen
showed that the cobalt-containing Tenneco sintered materials formed
a wear-reducing tribolayer at lower temperatures than the
cobalt-free one. This early forming of a stable tribolayer gave the
answer to the first question.
Comparing the samples, the same effect was examined on 17 to 35
percent Co materials, which provided the answer to question 2.
Based on these results, a new material was developed,
designated FM-T88A, a sintered steel with 17 percent Co, which met
production and quality requirements, including the
manufacturability and mixing of the metal powder, the sintering
process, machinability and quality assurance.
To verify the results of the initial tests, collaborative trials
were conducted with a major global vehicle manufacturer comparing
the wear resistance of FM-T88A against series production materials.
This was undertaken in a test rig which simulated the installation
and loading of a turbocharger wastegate bushing running at
temperatures up to 800°C.
"The results showed that at 200oC, FM-T88A displays a
significantly reduced depth of wear compared to a cobalt-free
material and is at a comparable level of wear resistance to the
high-cobalt material," says Wellmann. "At all other temperatures
the new material's performance closely mirrored the high-cobalt
materials."
"With 50 percent of the cobalt mined globally now used in
batteries for electrified vehicle powertrains, demand for the
material is growing year on year," said Olivetti. "By minimizing
the levels of cobalt used in our wear-resistant high temperature
sintered materials, we can help our customers mitigate the limited
availability and price volatility of cobalt while still
delivering robust products."
About the new Tenneco – the future Powertrain
Technology company
Following Tenneco's expected separation
to form two independent companies, an Aftermarket and Ride
Performance company (DRiV™) as well as a new Powertrain Technology
company, the new Tenneco will be one of the world's largest
pure-play powertrain companies serving OE markets worldwide with
engineered solutions addressing fuel economy, power output, and
criteria pollution requirements for gasoline, diesel and
electrified powertrains. The new Tenneco would have 2019 revenues
of $11.45 billion, serving light
vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway and industrial markets.
Safe Harbor
This release contains forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements include, among others,
statements relating to our strategies and plans to separate into
two independent public companies. Forward-looking statements are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to materially differ from those described in the
forward-looking statements, including the possibility that Tenneco
may not complete the separation of the Aftermarket & Ride
Performance business from the Powertrain Technology business (or
achieve some or all of the anticipated benefits of such a
separation); the possibility that the separation may have an
adverse impact on existing arrangements with Tenneco, including
those related to transition, manufacturing and supply services and
tax matters; the ability to retain and hire key personnel and
maintain relationships with customers, suppliers or other business
partners; the risk that the benefits of the separation may not be
fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the
risk that the separation may not advance Tenneco's business
strategy; the potential diversion of Tenneco management's attention
resulting from the separation; as well as the risk factors and
cautionary statements included in Tenneco's periodic and current
reports (Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K) filed from time to time with the
SEC. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction
of actual results. Unless otherwise indicated, the forward-looking
statements in this release are made as of the date of this
communication, and, except as required by law, Tenneco does not
undertake any obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to publicly
disclose revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements.
Additional information regarding these risk factors and
uncertainties is detailed from time to time in the company's SEC
filings, including but not limited to its annual report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31,
2019. In addition, please see Tenneco's financial
results press release for factors that could cause Tenneco's future
performance to vary from the expectations expressed or implied by
the forward-looking statements herein.
CONTACT
Ursula
Hellstern
Director Global External Communications
+49 (611) 201 9190
Ursula.Hellstern@tenneco.com
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SOURCE Tenneco Inc.