Mudflap wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 10:34
Re-reading your original translation the only reference I can find is for chrome. Hard chrome bore coatings have been used in racing engines for a long time so it is plausible they have made an improvement on this.
I find it extremey difficult to believe they use a form of hard anodizing which would be completely unsuitable in such applications. Typically hard chrome platings are in the range of 67 HRC while hard anodized aluminium is about half that!
I have no issue with you speculating, just make it clear when you do so otherwise it might be misinterpreted as actual translation which is very confusing.
By the way DLC would be even better since it can achieve over 90 HRC and much better tribological properties but has very poor adhesion to parent aluminium bores.
I don't claim to know what material make up it is. I don't claim that k plating is alumite, nickel or chromate. I only bring to light what the specialty of the company is known for, which is a method that is not arc-spray or twas. I bring to light that there is other technology than ceramic coating that has been proven to be stronger. It's used for spacecraft and other high tech applications. It happens to be anodic oxide process, which is the area of technology that Kumamoto is respected for. I don't know if nickel or chromium is considered an exotic material but we do know titanium is banned from being used in the cylinder bore. What I do know is that aluminum isn't banned, and that Honda will invest in high tech applications that require utmost precision and quality. No mediocrity since the engines will be locked in. You don't have to believe anything written in the article, it isn't titled "Birth of the Honda PU:Secret Story" for no reason. The article puts emphasis on the word "kumasei-mekki" with quotes to allude to the nickname they have given this proprietary material. Some people in Japan will say mekki translates to chrome, but the article puts an intentional emphasis with quotes. On the Japanese website for the company they make a distinction in saying Alumite process is not mekki, and that there are diffences in the two. That is why I never said it is Alumite. What I would guess is that Honda would go with the lightest material possible that is allowed, and that is Aluminum.
I haven't done anything to shoot myself in the foot like the zealot on my ignore list purports, he's just making himself look bad. I would suggest for your sake that you avoid the route he's taken.
If you guys are so hell bent on finding out the secret sauce you guys go do the research and go to the company and sign up for a factory tour. I don't owe any information to any of you.