This paper investigates the structure and mechanical characteristics of a coating based on an AlSi12 alloy, obtained by centrifugal induction surfacing as an alternative to a bronze sliding bearing. To provide for the adhesion of an aluminum layer to the inner surface of a steel bearing housing, a sublayer of low-melting metals was formed, while the formation of the main layer and the sublayer was done in a single processing cycle. The low-melting metals had higher density, which ensured that the sublayer was created at the interface with the steel bearing housing under the action of centrifugal forces. It is shown that the low-melting sublayer forms a strong bond both with the aluminum alloy and with the steel base. Lead and tin are used as low-melting additives. It has been established that lead or tin used in a sublayer are indirectly involved in the structural formation of boundary layers of steel and aluminum claddings, acting as a medium for diffuse mass transfer. Thus, lead is not included in the composition of the main coating and does not change the chemical composition of the aluminum layer. After the addition of tin, the aluminum develops a dendritic structure, with tin captured in the interdendritic space. In this case, the deposited layer is saturated with iron with the formation of intermetallic (Fe, Al, Si) compounds, both at the interface and in the coating volume. This paper offers an explanation of the mechanism through which Pb and Sn act on the structure formation of the coating, and on the boundary layer of the steel bearing housing. Tribological tests have shown that the resulting materials are a promising option for plain bearings and highly competitive with the CuSn10P bronze.
Keywords: AlSi12 alloy; centrifugal induction surfacing; coating; friction coefficient; lead sublayer; plain bearing; structure; wear resistance.