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Scania develops its first thermoplastic oil pan module
APPLICATIONS Scania develops its first thermoplastic oil pan module
Hybrid-electric aircraft has composite structure
AN OIL SUMP moulded from DuPont’s Zytel® glass reinforced polyamide (PA) 66 resin is being incorporated in Swedish truck maker Scania’s Euro 6 engines. The lightweight yet robust oil sump is the lower shell of the oil pan module. It was produced in Sweden by the Plastal Group AB, with material, design and processing support from DuPont and the input of prototype specialist Idé-Pro of Skive, Denmark. The oil sump is moulded from a heat-stabilised, 35% glass fibre reinforced grade of Zytel PA 66, which is suitable for harsh, under-the-hood applications involving high temperatures and oil. Its low melt viscosity means it readily fills thin section moulds, which, in combination with fast
www.reinforcedplastics.com
The reinforced thermoplastic part weights 6 kg less than its aluminium predecessor.
set up times, contributes to very fast moulding cycles. According to the development team at Scania, their main reasons for choosing Zytel were that it meets its technical requirements when used in oxidised oil and still provides the necessary level of impact performance. The adoption of the DuPont thermoplastic material for this application is believed to be a first for the truck market. It has enabled a reduction in the
weight of the component by over 50%, or 6 kg, versus its aluminium predecessor, which will improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Scania also found that switching from metal to plastic in the oil sump dampens engine noise to help meet Euro 6 noise emission standards. Scania unveiled its new 440 and 480 hp (324 and 353 kW) 13-litre Euro 6-compliant engines in 2011. DuPont; www.dupont.com
VOLTA VOLARE and its subsidiary Volt Aero Technologies claim their GT4 aircraft is the world’s first hybrid-electric, full-sized high performance private aircraft. Every structural component of the 4-seat GT4 is constructed from carbon fibe composite. Volta Voltaré says this makes the aircraft stable and agile, but also able to withstand tremendous loads and weather exposure over many years of service life. 10 GT4 aircraft are available for purchase in 2012, and only 36 will be produced in 2013. They cost US$495 000. Volta Volaré; www.voltavoltare.com
JULY/AUGUST 2012
REINFORCEDplastics
9
Hybrid-electric aircraft has composite structure
AN OIL SUMP moulded from DuPont’s Zytel® glass reinforced polyamide (PA) 66 resin is being incorporated in Swedish truck maker Scania’s Euro 6 engines. The lightweight yet robust oil sump is the lower shell of the oil pan module. It was produced in Sweden by the Plastal Group AB, with material, design and processing support from DuPont and the input of prototype specialist Idé-Pro of Skive, Denmark. The oil sump is moulded from a heat-stabilised, 35% glass fibre reinforced grade of Zytel PA 66, which is suitable for harsh, under-the-hood applications involving high temperatures and oil. Its low melt viscosity means it readily fills thin section moulds, which, in combination with fast
www.reinforcedplastics.com
The reinforced thermoplastic part weights 6 kg less than its aluminium predecessor.
set up times, contributes to very fast moulding cycles. According to the development team at Scania, their main reasons for choosing Zytel were that it meets its technical requirements when used in oxidised oil and still provides the necessary level of impact performance. The adoption of the DuPont thermoplastic material for this application is believed to be a first for the truck market. It has enabled a reduction in the
weight of the component by over 50%, or 6 kg, versus its aluminium predecessor, which will improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Scania also found that switching from metal to plastic in the oil sump dampens engine noise to help meet Euro 6 noise emission standards. Scania unveiled its new 440 and 480 hp (324 and 353 kW) 13-litre Euro 6-compliant engines in 2011. DuPont; www.dupont.com
VOLTA VOLARE and its subsidiary Volt Aero Technologies claim their GT4 aircraft is the world’s first hybrid-electric, full-sized high performance private aircraft. Every structural component of the 4-seat GT4 is constructed from carbon fibe composite. Volta Voltaré says this makes the aircraft stable and agile, but also able to withstand tremendous loads and weather exposure over many years of service life. 10 GT4 aircraft are available for purchase in 2012, and only 36 will be produced in 2013. They cost US$495 000. Volta Volaré; www.voltavoltare.com
JULY/AUGUST 2012
REINFORCEDplastics
9