Catcams N.V. High Performance Coatings

Catcams | Sinus Valves | High Performance Coatings

SnakeSkin Superfinish
The joint efforts of SINUS research and development (R&D) team and local Israeli R&D Start-up Company, have successfully brought to the creation of a new and innovating surface superfinish treatment on engine valves.

SnakeSkin is a friction reducing superfinish that is deposited on the valve’s stem metallic surface.

The main goal behind the development and adaptation of the process to the engine valves field, was to present the global automotive industry in general, and companies that act in the engine valves market in particular, with a brand new friction reducing solution that manages to significantly decrease the friction coefficient property of the valve’s stem inside the guide, in a highly efficient manner, while obtaining, as an added value, improved wear resistance and durability properties.

Another important goal that accompanied the implementation process, was to incorporate this innovating Superfinish treatment with our existing production equipment, in a manner that will allow us to present customers with valves featuring the optimum friction reduction property, at a cost that will be significantly less expensive than parallel solutions in this market, aiming to provide similar properties only at much higher cost.

Nowadays, the most common solutions in the field of friction reduction are special coatings like DLC (Diamond like Carbon), Titanium Nitride (TiN), Chromium Nitride (CrN) at cetera. These coatings will present the end user with valves that feature friction reducing properties but at the same time, the valve’s basic price will raise significantly due to the high cost of the deposition process, usually performed by PVD – physical vapor deposition process. Normally, engine valves manufacturers or coating companies, will require a rather substantial minimal quantity of parts that are to be coated and sometimes even ask the customer to pay a certain share of the tooling preparations that are inevitable when facing a part that hasn’t been treated by them in the past. All together, even though such coatings and treatments have been proven as highly efficient, on many cases it is the high cost of the end product that causes engine valves vendors to settle on a more basic finish grade for the valves they supply their customers with.

The SnakeSkin Superfinish is an ultimate and economic solution that can serve the purposes of any company that acts in the engine valves market, wishing to offer its range of customers with a wider selection and an opportunity to purchase upgraded valves at affordable prices.

It has also been proven that when the SnakeSkin Superfinish is deposited on valves that were initially treated with a PVD coating, a far greater value will be obtained. The reason for this fact, is that the SnakeSkin Superfinish deposition doesn’t subtract any property achieved by any coating process, therefore a phenomenon of properties incorporation accurse and the end product becomes far more superior then it should have been if it was treated with a coating process alone.

The Process

The SnakeSkin Superfinish is consisted of two separate Sub-processes. Each Sub-process is individual and intendeds to significantly decrease the valve’s friction coefficient, thus directly improving the valve’s wear resistance and durability properties. These properties are constantly subjected to improvement attempts by engine valves manufacturers and surface treatment providers from around the globe.

The first stage is the creation of a grooved pattern on the valve’s stem metallic surface. This Sub-process is referred to as SnakeSkin Grooving due to the resemblance between the pattern and the texture of a snake’s skin. The SnakeSkin Grooving is designed to create an oil reserving layer on top of the valve’s stem surface. The main objective of such layer is to add lubrication and increase durability, especially under oil starvation or boundary lubrication conditions that are highly common in racing engines that constantly run at high RPM’s or heavy duty and industrial engines that are subjected to long operation hours at full capacity.

The creation of oil reservoirs on an engine valve’s stem is not an innovation as a process due to the fact that it was attempted and performed since the late 1960’s. However, neither one of the available treatments offered in that field, has ever managed to significantly improve the valve’s durability or wear resistant properties that are directly challenged under such engine conditions. The true innovating achievement behind the SnakeSkin Grooving is its ability to successfully improve the quality features and properties that other treatments failed to improve.

The second and completing Sub-process is the deposition of a special polymer done using a dedicated polymer lapping device. The polymer deposition creates an organic oil-retaining nanolayer on the valve’s stem surface. When combined with the SnakeSkin Grooving process, this organic layer is covering the edges of the grooving pattern and a solid oil retaining layer is created. The combination of both processes, and correct selection of a proper grooving pattern, brings to properties incorporation that has shows excellent results and significant performance benefits on specific applications.

Each of the sub-processes can act as an individual finishing treatment that will lead to friction reduction between the valve’s stem inside the guide. The reduction of friction will directly reflect and improve the valve’s durability and wear resistance properties. However, it has been proven that in order to achieve significant results, improve the engine’s overall mechanical efficiency, obtain highly improved yet durable engine performance, and significantly increase the valve’s lifespan, the full SnakeSkin Superfinish process is required.

Valves featuring the SnakeSkin Superfinish were tested and are now in constant use by many of SINUS customers acting in the fields of high performance racing engines, heavy duty diesel and natural gas engines, industrial engines, and dedicated engines for military and defense applications.

M.L.S.P
M.L.S.P coating is the latest innovating development by SINUS R&D and its coating development departments.

Multi-Layer Separated Plasma (M.L.S.P) enables the incorporation of existing coatings properties achievements and new coatings that features extremely low friction and wear coefficient, by creating several thin film coatings layers, deposited using SINUS physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating facility.
The creation of multiple coating layers means that the distinctive technical properties and characteristics of each coating involved in the process are incorporated.
The ability to provide an engine valve that unites such a wide range of quality improving properties, allows SINUS to present customers with a verity of creative and customized solutions in the field of internal combustion engine valves.
In addition to the innovating nature of multi-layer coating, the deposition process is carried out using yet another innovating development, presented by SINUS coating development team.

The deposition process is performed using the recently developed separated plasma source which main highlight is the absence of micro drops throughout the tribological coating process.
The most conspicuous benefit of the tribological coating process is the providence of a solid surface over the top layer, and so, substantially decreased friction coefficient is obtained.

MLSP allows SINUS to present the global automotive industry in general, and companies that act in the field of engine valves in particular, with a new generation of internal combustion engine valves.

Highlights

Extremely high corrosion resistance at high engine temperatures
Substantially decreased friction between the valve stem and valve guide
Extremely high engine temperatures resistance
Extremely high wear resistance
Hardness level of 3000HV
Color selection: Dark grey or deep dark purple

Chromium nitride (CrN) coating
Chromium Nitride (CrN) Coating

Introduction

Chromium Nitride (CrN) coating is deposited on SINUS valves using physical vapor deposition (PVD) process.

Alongside to improved wear resistance and high corrosion resistance properties, the most conspicuous highlight of the Chromium Nitride coating, is its ability to significantly increase the valve’s heat resistance property.
SINUS Chromium Nitride coating has proven itself as a remarkable solution for valves that are subjected to extreme engine temperatures and expected to durably perform under such conditions for long term usage.

Chromium nitride coating deposition improves yet another important valve property - the friction coefficient.
Engine valves treated with chromium nitride coating will feature noticeably decreased friction between the valve’s stem and the valve guide.

SINUS designates the Chromium Nitride coating deposition, on valves intended for high performance racing engines, turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines, heavy duty and industrial diesel engines, natural gas engines, and any other engine which valves are subjected to increasing temperatures.

SINUS Chromium Nitride coating color is subjected to the customer’s choice and can be presented in shiny silver, black or deep dark purple color.

Highlights
Extremely high corrosion resistance at extremely high temperatures
Substantially decreased friction between the valve stem and valve guide.
Extremely high engine temperatures resistance
Extremely high wear resistance.
Increased durability and lifespan.
High hardness level of up to 1400HV
Color selection: shiny silver | black | deep dark purple

Titanium nitride (TiN) coating
Titanium Nitride (TiN) coating is the recommended treatment when the enhancement of the valve’s wear resistance property is required.

SINUS coating professionals, that operates SINUS physical vapor deposition (PVD) department, have come up with a well adjusted and customized Titanium Nitride coating that elevates the valve hardness level to 1600HV and thus, significantly increasing the valve’s wear resistance property.
In addition, the Titanium Nitride coating also substantially improves the valve’s high corrosion resistance and durability properties.

SINUS recommends on Titanium Nitride coating, to be deposited on valves that are intended for use in high performance engines, serving in long duration racing such as lap racing or WRC racing, as in such the engine is running at high RPM for a long period of time, and the valves are expected to perform at their peak for the entire race duration.
The Titanium Nitride coating is also highly recommended for heavy duty, industrial, military, or any other engine, which operation is for a long period of time, and highly durable engine components are essential.

SINUS Titanium Nitride coating is presented in shiny golden yellow color.

Highlights
High corrosion resistance
Extremely high wear resistance
Decreased friction between the valve’s stem and valve guide
Significantly extended lifespan
Highly durable
High hardness level of 1600HV.
Golden yellow color.

Zirconium nitride (ZrN) coating
Zirconium Nitride (ZrN) coating is the ultimate solution for valves that are intended for use in highly corrosive environment.

The Zirconium Nitride coating will substantially reinforce the valve’s corrosion resistance property and enable highly durable valve performance.
The Zirconium Nitride coating will also provide enhancement to the valve’s wear resistance property, significantly increase the valve’s lifespan, and improve the valve stem friction coefficient to allow decreased friction between the stem and the valve guide.

SINUS recommends on Zirconium Nitride coating for valves that are due to perform in extremely high corrosive environment, be it for any kind of engine that outputs such conditions.

The Zirconium Nitride coating is presented in shiny golden white color.

Highlights
Significantly high corrosion resistance
Decreased friction between the valve’s stem and valve guide
Extremely high wear resistance
Increased lifespan
Highly durable
Shiny golden white color.

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