A wet-style cylinder liner (16) for a
diesel engine is provided with a surface texture (28) to combat the effects of
cavitation-induced
erosion. The surface texture (28) can be formed as a
coating (30) of
manganese phosphate applied about the outer surface (26) of the cylinder liner (16) within the
coolant flow passage (20) of the engine. The
manganese phosphate is applied in such a manner that a crystalline structure of 2-8 μm average grain size, blocky in nature, clearly faceted, with no cauliflower-like formations and a discernable
channel network surrounding the crystals is formed. This crystalline structure works with the natural adhesion and
surface tension effects within the liquid
coolant to create a stagnant
fluid layer about the outer surface (26) of the cylinder liner (16). The stagnant
fluid layer functions like a self-healing armor plate. When rapid flexing of the cylinder liner (16) produces
cavitation bubbles, these bubbles are held at a distance from the outer surface (26) by the stagnant
fluid layer. As the bubbles implode, their
kinetic energy is dissipated within the stagnant fluid layer instead of directly upon the outer surface (26) of the cylinder liner (16). The
manganese phosphate coating (30) acts as a labyrinth to anchor water molecules, or the engine
coolant, and thus promote formation of the stagnant fluid layer.