Mercedes DIII Metallurgical Study

[gravman]

Hello All,

Does anyone know if there exists a study of the aluminum and steel used in the D III (i.e. F1466) for any variant?

Please note: I am looking specifically for information on the metals used in this motor. I would thank all who respond in advance NOT to post about German aluminum and/or steel production.

Cheers and thanks in advance,

Greg

[tcrean7828]

Originally Posted by gravman

Hello All,

Does anyone know if there exists a study of the aluminum and steel used in the D III (i.e. F1466) for any variant?

Please note: I am looking specifically for information on the metals used in this motor. I would thank all who respond in advance NOT to post about German aluminum and/or steel production.

Cheers and thanks in advance,

Greg

Mate,
Welcome to the flagship of the Aerodrome - where the greatest minds on the planet get together and talk about their favorite subject - WW1.

ttfn

tcrean7828

tom

P.S. Werner Voss fan here.

[Dave_Watts]

Hi Greg,

I had some spectrographic analyisis done on shavings from my D.IIIa when I re-line bored it and did other machining as well as main crankcase cylinder stud bolts, babbitt, etc., but I can't put my fingers on it this moment. It cost some money to do the tests, but was invaluable when making replacement pieces.

I think the data from a Mercedes D.IV could suffice for you. Go to Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1919 and you will see on page 111b and 112b the metal analysis of the chemical composition of the following parts;

Gear Wheel, Connecting Rod, Camshaft, Camshaft Case, Valves, Crankcase, Valve Springs, and Crankshaft.

If this is not helpful enough, I can dig for my modern results.

Best,
Dave W.

[gravman]

Dave,

Thanks for the information. If you could and when you can do it, could you dig up that info? If you had a spectral analysis done, do have the raw data? I am professionally familiar with spectra, so if you had the raw data? though whatever you did and have would be of great assistance. You didn't happen to have either half of the crankcase done as well?

Did you happen to photograph any of the crankshaft or crankshaft case? Or take any angular measurements of the crankshaft?

Thanks for the article and I look forward to your reply,

Cheers,

Greg

[Dave_Watts]

Hi all,

Greg,
Did you find the information I mentioned?

I'll go ahead and post them as I believe they should be reliable.

Gear Wheel.
(I'm guessing this is the large vertical transfer gear that goes on the back of the camshaft and is driven from below by the vertical jack shaft at the rear of the motor ).

Carbon..........0.30%
Silicon...........0.27%
Manganese....0.74%
Sulphur..........0.025%
Phosphorus....0.030%
Nickel............4.17%
Chromium......1.39%
Vanadium.......Nil.

Connecting Rod.

Carbon..........0.13%
Silicon...........0.19%
Manganese....0.52%
Sulphur..........0.033%
Phosphorus....0.014%
Nickel............2.83%
Chromium.......0.29%

Camshaft.

Carbon..........0.16%
Silicon...........0.27%
Manganese....0.60%
Sulphur..........0.052%
Phosphorus....0.014%

Camshaft Case.

..........................Body..........Covers.
Carbon................0.00%.........2.97%
Graphite Carbon...0.00%.........0.62%
Silicon.................0.02%.........1.81%
Manganese..........0.46%.........0.53%
Sulphur................0.041%.......0.118%
Phosphorus..........0.012%.......0.085%

Valves.

..........................Exhaust.......Inlet.
Carbon................1.75%.........1.82%
Silicon.................0.58%.........0.52%
Manganese..........0.10%.........0.10%
Sulphur................0.048%.......0.048%
Phosphorus..........0.013%.......0.010%
Nickel..................Nil..............Nil.
Chromium...........10.85..........10.47
Vanadium.............Nil..............Nil.
Tungsten..............Nil..............Nil.

Crankcase.

Total SIlicon.........0.96%
Graphite Silicon....0.35%
Copper.................4.22%
Zinc.....................3.65%
Iron......................0.81%

Valve Springs.

Carbon................0.52%
Silicon.................0.07%
Manganese..........0.59%
Sulphur................0.060%
Phosphorus..........0.031%
Nickel..................Nil.
Chromium............Nil.

Crankshaft.

Carbon................0.41%
Silicon.................0.29%
Sulphur................0.052%
Phosphorus..........0.042%
Manganese..........0.64%
Nickel..................2.36%
Chromium............0.86%

That should help out.

Even though this is from the later D.IV, I would strongly recommend you use these findings as if anything, they, Daimler, would have improved the alloys if there were any problems on the D.IIIa series motors with this new motor design.

Best,
Dave W.

P.S. Greg, send me an e-mail with your e-mail address to davew@wattstrainshop.com