Al-based bearing alloy

Abstract

An Al-based bearing alloy includes 1 to 15 mass % of Si. In the Al-based bearing alloy, an average of A/a is greater than 1 and equal to or less than 4, where A represents a distance between adjacent Si particles residing on a sliding-side surface, and a represents a length of a major axis of the Si particles.

1 . An Al-based bearing alloy comprising:
 1 to 15 mass % of Si,   wherein an average of A/a is greater than 1 and equal to or less than 4,   where A represents a distance between adjacent Si particles residing on a sliding-side surface, and a represents a length of a major axis of the Si particles.   
     
     
         2 . The Al-based bearing alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein an average aspect ratio of the Si particles residing on the sliding-side surface is equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or less than 2.5. 
     
     
         3 . The Al-based bearing alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein a given specific Si particle residing on the sliding-side surface and a closest Si particle adjacent to the specific particle in a thickness direction are spaced from one another such that the closest Si particle resides within radius r being taken from a gravitational center of the specific Si particle and being given by:
     r=B ×( A/a )(μm)
       a /2 <B ≦20
   
       where A represents a distance from the specific particle to the adjacent Si particle on the sliding-side surface, and a represents a length of a major axis of the specific Si particle. 
     
     
         4 . The Al-based bearing alloy according to  claim 1  comprising:
 one or more of:
 (1) a total of 0.1 to 7 mass % of one or more elements selected from the group of Cu, Zn, and Mg; 
 (2) a total of 0.01 to 3 mass % of one or more elements selected from the group of Mn, V, Mo, Cr, Co, Fe, Ni, W; and 
 (3) a total of 0.01 to 2 mass % of one or more elements selected from the group of B, Ti, and Zr. 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The Al-based bearing alloy according to  claim 2  comprising:
 one or more of: 
 (1) a total of 0.1 to 7 mass % of one or more elements selected from the group of Cu, Zn, and Mg; 
 (2) a total of 0.01 to 3 mass % of one or more elements selected from the group of Mn, V, Mo, Cr, Co, Fe, Ni, W; and 
 (3) a total of 0.01 to 2 mass % of one or more elements selected from the group of B, Ti, and Zr. 
 
     
     
         6 . The Al-based bearing alloy according to  claim 3  comprising:
 one or more of: 
 (1) a total of 0.1 to 7 mass % of one or more elements selected from the group of Cu, Zn, and Mg; 
 (2) a total of 0.01 to 3 mass % of one or more elements selected from the group of Mn, V, Mo, Cr, Co, Fe, Ni, W; and 
 (3) a total of 0.01 to 2 mass % of one or more elements selected from the group of B, Ti, and Zr.