AUTOMOTIVE | UNDER THE HOOD
Figure 1. Teknor Apex: Property retention after heat ageing of two glass fibre reinforced polyamides
Currently available grades, with glass fibre content of 35, 50, or 60%, exhibit improved property retention in comparison with similarly glass-filled standard PA 66 compounds (see Figure 1). They also cost around 30% less per kg than high performance polymers such as PPA or PA 4.6, while providing comparable performance. “Additional cost savings with Creamid 240 H7.5 compounds are achievable in processing,” says Hartmut Elsässer, Global Director of Technology for engineering thermoplastics. “These new materials exhibit lower melt and mould temperatures than competing PA 66 compounds and high-perfor- mance products like PPA, providing economies in terms of energy consumption, cycle times, and tooling requirements.”
While the new compounds have processing Figure 2. Teknor Apex: Processing temperatures of high heat polymers
use of complex mould geometries and improves the efficiency of the injection moulding process. Grivory HT is suitable for vehicles with classic internal combustion engines as well as those with electro motors, where thermal management is particularly important and liquid cooling systems using water are also employed. Combination with electrical conductor tracks and electrical compo- nents is possible because it is stabilised to prevent problems with salt efflorescence and corrosion caused under warm and moist conditions. Teknor Apex has introduced a series of high-
heat glass-reinforced polyamide 66 compounds that it says bridges the cost-performance gap between standard heat-resistant polyamides and costly speciality polymers, providing injection moulders with a more economical alternative for automotive and other metal-replacement parts. Creamid 240 H7.5 Series compounds are claimed to provide the strength and stiffness of highly glass filled engineering polymers while maintaining high levels of critical mechanical properties even after continuous service at temperatures of 240°C.
44 INJECTION WORLD | May 2019
temperatures in the range of 280-300°C and mould temperatures of 80-110°C, the corresponding ranges for PPA or PA 4.6 are 330-350°C and 130-150°C (see Figure 2). Teknor Apex recom- mends Creamid 240 H7.5 compounds for automo- tive under-the-hood components such as charge air cooler end caps, air intake manifolds, quick-fit connectors, radiator end tanks, turbo air ducts and resonators, oil pump wheels, EGR valves and thermostatic casings. “While metal replacement continues to drive demand for polyamides in the automotive market, performance-boosting technologies such as turbocharged engines and advanced transmission systems place stricter requirements for heat resistance, chemical resistance and reduced water absorption,” says Markus Krippner, Director of Sales and Marketing. “These forces, along with the overriding industry effort to reduce vehicle weight, are driving Teknor Apex investment into new polyamide technologies. Lightweighting requires materials that provide high strength, low levels of creep and excellent processability. Creamid 240 H7.5 compounds exhibit flow properties that readily accommodate the complex or thin wall parts or the long flow paths that are often required for metal replacement.” Solvay has developed Ryton PPS grades for
flexible, lightweight coolant lines, brackets and connectors in automotive thermal management assembly systems. Injection moulding grades include Ryton XE5430BL (30% glass filled) and Ryton R-4-270BL (40% glass filled). These materials are used in many existing connector and bracketry fittings to enable automotive OEMs to design fully harmonised and integrated coolant line assemblies for engines and transmissions. “Under-the-hood temperatures are pushing
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