FriCSo (www.fricso.com), a developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly technology and polymer-based devices that create a friction reduction nanolayer on moving parts, today announced that a test conducted by the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology found that FriCSo's Surface Engineering Treatment (SET) highly reduces particulate matter emissions, increases engine mechanical efficiency, and reduces fuel consumption.

FriCSo's breakthrough SET technology reduces the friction between moving parts using an innovative polymer-based machining process. SET creates an oil-retaining organic nanolayer chemically bonded to the metal surface, increases surface hardness and improves surface topography.

The test was performed on a 4-cylinder tractor diesel engine. The test was conducted by the Internal Combustion Engine Laboratory of the Technion's Mechanical Engineering Faculty. The test consisted of two runs: the first (which served as a baseline) – without any treatment of surfaces, and the second – after replacing the engine's main friction parts (cylinder liners, piston pins, rocker shafts, valves etc.) with new parts treated with FriCSo’s SET.

The test results show that using the SET treatment leads to a fuel consumption reduction of 0.4%-4%, depending on engine RPM and load. SET treatment resulted in a substantial decrease of particulate matter emissions (43%-46%), while oil consumption was reduced by 48% compared with the baseline case. In addition, SET treatment led to an improvement of about 2% in the engine’s mechanical efficiency.

"This test is further proof that FriCSo's SET introduces a new era in energy efficiency and environmental protection," said Amir Weisberg, CEO of FriCSo, Inc. "FriCSo is setting a new standard for friction and wear reduction, and enables manufacturers to offer superior products to meet market demand, with unprecedented performance."

FriCSo was recently awarded the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Award in the field of automotive coatings. According to S. Sumithra, Frost & Sullivan research analyst, "FriCSo's solution is an innovative device, which could potentially replace existing non-environment friendly coatings in the field of automotive coatings."  FriCSo’s surface treatment delivers coating-like performance.

The Surface Engineering Treatment (SET) comprises one or two processes:

-  High performance polymer lapping as a single treatment.

-  Two-step treatment consisting of surface texturing using vibro-grooving followed by polymer lapping.

FriCSo’s lapping process uses a uniquely designed consumable, patented polymer device. During the lapping process, small fragments torn from the polymeric lapping device with reactive polar groups react chemically with active areas on the abraded metal. The outcome of this process is a unique oil retaining property that significantly improves the metal surface properties. The organic nanolayer that is formed bonds to the metal substrate by strong ionic forces during the lapping process. The formation of these strong chemical bonds aids the adhesion between the polymeric molecules and the metal surface.

The surface texturing process involves introducing recesses onto the surface of the metal. These recesses can be either grooves made by plastic deformation or laser dimples. The recesses in the metal surface act as oil batteries by retaining oil and making it available to the surface in periods of insufficient oil supply. This provides the necessary lubrication among the mechanical parts of the vehicle in oil starvation conditions, such as when an engine is started. These recesses also funnel the metal debris that is created during sliding friction.