TECHNOLOGY

Heat-resistant thermoplastic used in Daimler engine

AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIER
Montaplast of Germany is using
BASFs high-temperature
resistant 35% glass bre
reinforced polyamide (PA)
Ultramid Endure in a heat
shield for the charge-air
manifold of a Daimler fourcylinder diesel engine.
BASF explains that in the air
intake region of the charge-air
manifold, which features integral
exhaust gas recirculation, fresh
air and hot exhaust gases are
brought together. This is where
high mixing temperatures and
strong turbulence are encountered. Until now, an aluminium
shield provided protection for
the wall and a built-in sensor.
Now, the heat-resistant plastic
insert fullls this function.

The heat aging resistance of

Ultramid Endure comes into
play here: the glass reinforced
thermoplastic withstands a
continuous service temperature
of 220C and peak temperatures
of 240C. This high heat
resistance is the result of a
stabilisation technology that
creates a protective surface
layer on the plastic, BASF
reports.
In addition, the weight of the
plastic part is only half of the
previous aluminium part.
Two further properties of the
thermoplastic composite
distinguish the new heat shield
from its metal predecessor.
Firstly, the plastic functions as a
thermal insulator. Additionally, it
was possible to incorporate

The Ultramid Endure part.

openings in the Ultramid

Endure heat shield to produce a
specic turbulence in the
charge air.
The Daimler engine is the rst
production application for

Ultramid Endure, which was

introduced two years ago. There
is also a 50% glass bre
reinforced grade ( D3G10),
which was introduced last year.
BASF; www.plasticsportal.net

AGY introduces sizings for

thermoplastic resins
AGY IS introducing new sizing
systems designed to give AGYs
glass rovings and yarns
compatibility with a wide range
of thermoplastic resins.
These thermoplastics include
polybutylene terephthalate
(PBT), polycarbonate (PC) and
polyamide 6 and 66 (PA 6 and
PA 66), and high performance
polymers such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyamide
11 and 12 (PA 11 and PA 12),
and polyetherimide (PEI).
Based on AGYs experience with
direct sizing of its S-2 Glass
yarns and rovings, the new
sizing compositions are
designed to be used for rovings
or yarns for the manufacture of
products such as tapes, or as
chopped bres in 0.125 inch
(3.2 mm) and 0.25 inch
(6.4 mm) lengths for

www.reinforcedplastics.com

compounding into thermoplastic materials.

The sizings have been evaluated
on a range of AGY products,
from low diameter E-glass to
S-2 Glass bres, and are said to
oer increased mechanical and
impact performances over
traditional chopped bres.
For example, the use of these
sizings with an S-2 Glass bre
product could allow a reduction
of the glass bres added to a
given thermoplastic compound
to enhance the aesthetics,
reduce weight or a combination
of both.
AGY expects the sizings,
combined with its S-2 Glass
technologies, to open up new
applications in the automotive,
aerospace and industrial
markets.
AGY; www.agy.com

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

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