Edición No. 21, Issue II, Enero 2025
1. INTRODUCCIÓN
The mechanical components of internal combustion
engines that use reduced crude oil as fuel present wear
due to friction, fuel quality, accumulated hours of
operation, abrasive action of soot particles, due to the
formation of acids due to the sulfur content of the fuel,
high pressures and temperatures [1]. This causes a loss
of operating efficiency by increasing the clearances
between static and rotating components until the
maximum permissible wear is reached, which leads to
the cessation of the mechanism operation [2], [3].
Several of these engine components once they have
finished their useful life due to wear, are feasible to
recover to their original state through additive
remanufacturing processes or thermal spray processes
that allow obtaining high-quality components like a new
spare part thus extending the product life cycle in the
circular economy [4], [5]. The layer-by-layer additive
remanufacturing processes that are popularly known as
3D printing represent a new technology that achieves
good results in the circular economy [6]. This
technology allows maintaining the properties of the
additive material as well as the substrate and does not
generate oxide during process [7]. On the other hand,
several thermal spray processes produce high-quality
fusion depositions, with the disadvantage that they can
generate oxidation, thermal stress, and even phase
changes in the filler material and the substrate if the
application parameters of the process are not properly
controlled [8].
The following is a brief review of the literature
regarding the dimensional recovery of deteriorated
engine components. Rahito et al [4] conducted a study
of the principles and capabilities of using metal additive
technology, in the remanufacturing and refurbishment
of mechanical elements that have ended their useful life
due to use, to achieve product life cycle extension in the
circular economy. The study determined that the
applicable additive processes for remanufacturing are
direct energy deposition, powder bed fusion, and cold
spray technology. The researchers conclude that AM
technology is being used in more and more applications
due to the excellent results obtained, such as obtaining
elements with similar characteristics to new spare
parts [9].
Permyakov et al. [3] developed a methodology for
technological design, repair, and restoration of worn
mechanical elements, using methods for improving the
working layer of the element. The proposed
technological process for the restoration of mechanical
elements is a combination of surface plastic deformation
and non-abrasive antifriction finishing treatment. With
the application of this procedure, it is possible to restore
the elements that have suffered wear due to use,
prolonging their useful life. Peng et al. [10] developed a
multicriteria study for the selection and application of
the remanufacturing and restoration process of
crankshafts, with an approach that considers the
environmental, economic, and technical property impact
by applying the fuzzy technique of order preference by
similarity to the ideal solution. The study concludes that
the most suitable methods for crankshaft restoration
from the vision of the circular economy, based on the
proposed criteria, in order of application are brush
electroplating, plasma spraying, plasma arc coating, and
laser coating applying these restoration methods,
compared to their remanufacturing counterparts
represent a saving of 50 % of the total cost, 60 % of
energy and up to 70 % of materials.
Yin et al. [7] carried out a systematic review of the
advances in the cold sputtering process technology
(CSAM) for the additive manufacturing and repair of
spare parts. This study has shown that the repair or
manufacturing of elements with the CSAM process does
not distort the properties of the addition material, does
not generate oxide deposits, and preserves the
characteristics of the substrate, obtaining elements with
excellent physical and mechanical properties suitable
for reuse [11] However, this method has disadvantages
because the quality of the deposition depends on the
kinetic energy, producing the addition of the material by
the plastic deformation of the raw material particles,
being necessary to perform a subsequent heat treatment
to improve the quality additionally, the finish has a
relatively high roughness, so machining must be
performed to give the final finish to the element.
Xiang et al. [12] developed a method for the
determination of the optimum moment to perform active
remanufacturing of a mechanical element. As an
illustrative example, the oil cylinder of a concrete truck
that has suffered wear due to use was used. Active
remanufacturing is based on remanufacturing or
refurbishing a product before discarding it. The
determination of the exact moment when
remanufacturing should be performed is of vital
importance because it facilitates the technique, reduces
costs, and minimizes waste generation in line with
environmental protection. The study considered the
relationship between environmental impact and
manufacturing cost throughout the product life cycle.
Through the method developed it was determined that
the right time for active remanufacturing is when the
product performance begins to degenerate.
Barragán et al. [13] carried out analytical and
experimental studies to determine the most suitable
combination for the application of the additive