In the field of diesel engine components, ceramic glow plugs assisting quick start up of chamber diesel engines had been developed in September, 1981 and ceramic swirl chambers followed in commercialization in April, 1983. These ceramic components are currently under commercial production and are installed on passenger cars on the merket.
Silicon nitride (Si3N4) is the material of these components, and a lot of mass-production technique has firmly established in order to achieve competitive price and high durability in comparison with the conventional metal components.
Because of its excellent heating characteristics, ceramic glow plugs have eliminated the “waiting time” before the start-up of diesel engines. As the result, drivers can enjoy quick starting of engines as they can do with gasoline fueled vehicles. Ceramic swirl chambers could drastically reduce idling noise of diesel engines and remarkably improved starting performance in the cold climate operation.
Ceramic Engine Components Under Commercial Production
