Effect analysis of technology process on piston materials characteristic

The piston is one of the major components of the motor fuel that serves as a component of the intake air pressure and the recipient of the combustion pressure in the combustion chamber. This component is designed to be lightweight and resistant to pressure. In addition to the selection of appropriate materials, selection of piston manufacturing process will affect its characteristics, especially the physical and mechanical properties. Piston sold in the market mostly made by casting process. However, to increase efficiency have also been developed pistons are made by forging process. The methodology used in this study was to observe the characteristics of both types of piston through microstructure testing and hardness testing. The results showed that piston products made with forging process has an average hardness values were 14.9 % from 121.1 HV of higher than the pistons are made of the casting process. Besides forging piston microstructure is homogeneous, while the piston cast in the form of dendrites. (author)