Feature

*From the September 2011 issue of Plastics Engineering

New and enhanced plastics are vital to underhood performance

By Pat Toensmeier

Underhood parts are breaking ground in dynamic and demanding applications, creating sizeable opportunities in coming years for engineering thermoplastics and thermosets.

Factors driving developments include greater efforts by auto OEMs to reduce vehicle weight through metal replacement and part consolidation, the need to lower component cost, and rising standards for fuel consumption, heat resistance, durability and dimensional stability. In some cases the ability of plastics to provide sustainability—i.e., green design—will be a factor.

Applications that are emerging for underhood (which in this report includes powertrain and chassis components) read like a checklist of engineered and structural parts. Notable are oil pans, fan shrouds and cooling systems; engine, valve and timing-chain covers; fully integrated oil modules; thermostat housings; electric throttle bodies; transmission seals, thrust washers and bearing cages; engine mounts and transmission cross beams. For hybrid-electric and electric vehicles, battery pack and recharging components and high-voltage connectors are on the list.

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Process- and product-enhancing additives are helping the industry bounce back from recession.

By Michael Tolinski

Noticeable in 2011 was the development of a number of productivity-enhancing and market-expanding additives for molders and converters recovering from the Great Recession. Suppliers have been releasing new processing aids that increase the quantity of parts or product produced per shift, with the potential for lowering total costs per part. Meanwhile, other new additives have been developed that toughen or color plastics in unique, application-specific ways. As described in the examples below, such continuing activity indicates that the technological nexus of compounders, processors, and additives suppliers remains strong in the industry.

 
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