In spite of metal alloys being the materials of choice for motor and gear applications, high-temperature plastics have established themselves in these areas.
Rise in Large-Scale Application of High Temperature-resistant Plastics in Motors and Gears London, UK - 1st September, 2005 - In spite of metal alloys being the materials of choice for motor and gear applications, high-temperature plastics have established themselves in these areas, especially in, but not confined to, the automotive sector. Automakers are increasingly considering developing fuel reservoirs, ignition modules, air manifolds, fuel connectors, oil screens, pistons, pumps, and valves with plastics that were previously considered incompetent in such high-heat environments. 'Their comparative lightness translates into greater fuel efficiency, a gain brought home by the ongoing spike in gasoline prices,' explains Michael Valenti, who has conducted an indepth Frost and Sullivan research service about this technology.
'As alternatives to the internal combustion engine get closer to commercialisation, lightweight materials will continue to be preferred over metals.' Besides their diversity in temperature ranges, chemical resistance and physical durability, injection moulding and computer-aided design (CAD) enable plastics to be custom-made to suit specific applications.
They also allow faster machining of finished parts and produce less waste, saving both time and money.
Karcoma-Armaturen , of Sindelfingen, Germany, incorporates glass-reinforced victrex PEEK polymers in the oil screens it supplies to trucks, including those from top-of-the-line companies.
In this application, the polymer is moulded in a single step onto a metal fabric, providing Karcoma-Armaturen significant cost and weight savings.
Similarly, one of the toughest applications for plastics in automotive motors is bearings.
Igus, a Germany-based multinational developer of plastic bearings manufactures the IGLIDE series of bearings that can withstand high temperatures and corrosive chemicals.
Even though such high-performance plastics can meet the challenging requirements in engines, they come at a high price.
Hence, the need for reducing the inherent costs of these resources is apparent, and will happen over time with the refinement of processing, reduction of material costs and increase in demand.
Plastics processing is more sensitive to environmental factors such as humidity than metalworking.
However, the benefits offered by these products offset this problem.
Plastic gears are corrosion resistant and reduce noise significantly.
This, as well as their low maintenance costs and longer life, can open up tremendous opportunities in the high temperature plastics market for motors and gears.
Leading plastics makers that are already involved in the development of high-temperature products will continue manufacturing them, particularly for end-user markets that are capable of investing in expensive products such as automotive and marine engines.
Companies that extensively employ chemical engineering capabilities in their research and development divisions will benefit from this opportunity.
Participants also need to mobilise awareness among potential end users about the high heat resistance of these plastics and their chemical and hydrolytic strength.
Such a move will help dispel doubts regarding their performance as well as harness the rising overall demand.
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In addition to discussing the various technology drivers and restraints that govern the market, the study covers research and development efforts at various universities, leading companies and other research institutions across the globe.
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