125 years of the automobile - Daimler's LDS cylindertrack opens up a new chapter in engine construction

In the automobile sector, thermally sprayed coatings are mainly utilised in cylinder bores of aluminium crankcases for passenger car engines. At Daimler AG, arc wire spraying (LDS) has, in the past decade, been developed to the stage where it is ready for large-scale series. It has distinct advantages over other wire or powder technologies. It was possible to achieve not only the saving of weight and construction space in the engine but also a significant decrease in the friction and thus in the consumption as a consequence of the specific coat morphology. Moreover, the LDS process is characterised, in particular, by its economic viability and robustness.