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).
Complexities of producing an oxidised coating on anodically treated pistons made from R.R.53 alloy.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 86\2\ scan0242 | |
| Date | 21th July 1934 | |
| Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} x236 To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} HL1/AG.21.7.34. Laboratory. Re: Anodically Treated Pistons. (Your ref: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/KW4.7.34.) We note that you wish to carry out some work on the above treatment, as applied to R.R.53 Alloy. We are fairly confident that we shall produce an oxidised coating on this material, but would point out that the properties of anodic oxide coats, we understand, can be varied very considerably by altering numerous factors, such as, (a) The alloy to be treated.(b) The solution used as electrolyte. (c) The conditions of electrolysis. It is likely therefore, that a considerable amount of work would have to be done in order to arrive at a process producing a coating equivalent to that on the pistons you are now running, presuming that this is possible. In addition to this it does not appear to be clearly established that this particular coating will give the optimum service. It would seem that a number of running tests will have to be carried out. This operation can be speeded up by running test pieces on our friction tester as a preliminary. (or concurrently?) We have made an enquiry with respect to a generator for supplying the necessary current, and delivery could be given in about 4 weeks. It would seem therefore, that with installation and experimental work, some time must elapse before any results are available. HL. He. | ||