To underline its commitment to the automotive industry, DSM Engineering Plastics is attending key industry events to demonstrate various new solutions for automotive applications. According to Bert Havenith, DSM Global Technical Marketing and R&D Manager Automotive, the main trends and needs in the automotive industry today can be described as system cost optimizations and productivity gains, improved safety, long term sustainability and reduced environmental impact.
Mr. Havenith explains that each of these needs is driven either by legal regulations (CO2 emissions, Euro 4/5/6, pedestrian safety, fuel consumption, biofuels; pedestrian safety; recycling and End-of-Life-of Vehicle), consumer wishes/needs (more infotainment; more safety devices; more comfort and more individualized designs) or by profit considerations within the business chain in the automotive world.
DSM Engineering Plastics has a well established portfolio to address these needs. The key approach can be highlighted as follows: in processing, productivity gains can be achieved through the use of High Flowabilty & High Productivity materials such as Akulon Ultraflow PA6, Stanyl High Flow and Super Flow PA46, Xantar C PC/ABS.
he key approach can be highlighted as follows also in design, greater freedom can be obtained by using High Flow materials such as Akulon Ultraflow PA6, Stanyl High and Super Flow PA46, Xantar C PC/ABS and via High Modulus (50-60%GF) grades of Arnite (PBT, PET), Stanyl (PA46) and Akulon (PA6)
Improved safety performance excellent materials and design support in air bag systems, high quality and narrow spec PET for brake booster systems.
Sustainability and reduced impact on the environment: weight reduction projects such as metal-to-plastic conversions in order to reduce fuel consumption and thus emission levels, design for recyclability via function integration within plastic parts, green materials such as halogen free flame retardant materials materials.
However, in recent developments DSM Engineering Plastics has introduced new materials to deliver step-change solutions for all these requirements. Mr. Havenith explains the key advancements:
Weight reduction via metal-to-plastic conversion has a long track record in automotive: various applications have already been converted into plastic parts such as air inlet manifolds (PA6), air ducts (PA6, TPC), charge air cooler endcaps (PA46, PA66, PA6), chain tensioners (PA46, PA66), pulleys (PA46), bearings (PA46), torsion dampener parts (PA46), air bag containers (PA6) and many more. In these and many other applications, not only the weight is significantly reduced (by up to 50%), but also system costs (sometimes by up to 30%).
