From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Use, benefits, and proposed testing of anodically treated aluminium pistons.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 86\2\ scan0231 | |
| Date | 4th July 1934 | |
| To WGR, from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c.c. to Hl. c.c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c.c. to RMC. c.c. to EJJ. X236 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}3/KW.4.7.34. Anodically Treated Pistons. During the last twelve months anodically treated aluminium pistons have become standard practice on most American cars. This treatment coats the surface of the aluminium with an exceedingly hard skin of extreme thinness. The advantage of this hard skin is that it reduces the chance of piston scuffing or partial seizure. An example given to me by the Cadillac Company was that without the treatment they could score the piston in six cold starts, with the treatment no trouble occurred after 90 cold starts. The usual result of a partial piston seizure is cold knocks. We are particularly anxious to get our own designs of pistons running with this hard surface. There is a Company at Slough who purport to be working in conjunction with the Americans, but they have had a set of pistons for treatment over two months and have as yet done nothing for us. We understand from other people who are interested in the same subject that this Company mainly confine their anoding treatment to covering sheet aluminium and are not really expending any energy in applying it to pistons. We should like to make an attempt to treat some pistons in our laboratory. Hl. informs us that he does not see any particular difficulties in the job if he can get the necessary D.C. current. We are running some pistons obtained from America at present which are giving good results. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||