UNDER THE HOOD | AUTOMOTIVE


temperatures, they must also be chemically resistant, lightweight and above all fuel efficient,” Schmutz says. “Solutions to specific problems and applica- tions vary depending on where parts are placed and what function they have. For example, parts near engines must be HDT, brake fluid tanks must be resistant to corrosive chemicals and application areas like under-body shielding demand stiffness and the highest levels of impact resistance. “Some of the upcoming trends emerging from the drive to achieve reduced environmental impact and energy efficiency that have had a direct impact on the dynamics of the automotive under-the-hood plastic industry include the development of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics and of cellulose enabled hybrid composites. The recent advances the industry has seen in both engineering and newer injection moulding equipment have already produced positive results, such as energy savings of between 20-50% compared to 10 years ago. “Lightweight, extra strength and impact perfor- mance have been achieved in parts like front-end carriers and battery trays, for example, with glass fibre reinforced PP solutions that reduce processing temperatures and energy requirements while contributing to more eco-friendly production. The intricately complex and highly integrated housing for air conditioning systems must be constantly func- tional in an environment of continual shocks and vibrations at temperatures of up to 70°C. Further- more, all parts must be fuel and lubricant resistant and maintain their dimensional sealing stability even at peak temperatures of 120°C. In order to prevent unpleasant odours streaming into the automobile’s interior via the heated air, resins that guarantee low odour and minimal emission are needed.” Achieving cost, fuel and weight efficiencies is now an established imperative for automotive manufacturers and Songwon says that it has developed several solutions to address these needs. SongXtend 2124 stabiliser was specifically developed to meet the automotive industry’s stringent demands for under-the-hood applica- tions. The stabiliser improves the long-term thermal stability (LTTS) of the short- and long-glass fibre reinforced PP used in under-the-hood applications for moulded parts, and can match the LTTS performance of 1,000 hours and beyond at 150°C. It also contributes to making it possible for mould- ed parts to be thinner and lighter while maintaining similar mechanical properties as unfilled parts. The stabiliser can also achieve significantly better LTTS performance compared to classical systems based on SongNox 1010 and SongNox DSTDP stabilisers in glass fibre reinforced polypropylene.


www.injectionworld.com


Left: Henrik Langwald,


Business Devel- opment Director


Automotive, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Europe


The company adds that using stabilisers inter- rupts the natural degradation process of plastics through oxidation and leads to the creation of highly durable materials which can be processed at high temperatures and can last for many years. Although the addition of stabilisers is essential for maintaining the value and properties of plastics after they are recycled, the type and quantity of stabilisers that are needed can vary according to the resin involved and the purpose for which it will be used. One of the additives Songwon has developed for ensuring the quality of the recycled plastics, particularly in battery case recycling, is SongNox 3001-2. This stabiliser blend is certified for use in automotive interior applications and meets require- ments in terms of improved LTTS, as well as making it possible for recycled-PP to be re-used in durable applications, for example, automotive applications that require more long-term thermal stability. SongNox 3001-2 increases quality and maintains the performance of recycled-PP. Depending on the quality of the recycling stream, it can extend the service life of recycled-PP by a possible factor of 3-4. The stabiliser’s concentration can be adjusted on a batch-by-batch basis also depending on the quality of the recycling stream which provides manufacturers with greater flexibility, material economy and cost savings. According to Henrik Langwald, Business Development Director Automotive, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Europe, given the focus on energy and carbon emissions, plus all-electric vehicles, plastic materials and how they are used in under- the-hood applications will play an even stronger role in the automotive industry, particularly in relation to optimising performance and fuel economy. “For European Union and EEA member states, standards are currently in place for light- duty (cars, vans) and heavy-duty vehicles (lorries,


May 2019 | INJECTION WORLD 47


PHOTO: SUMITOMO (SHI) DEMAG


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