The automotive industry is looking for options to reduce weight
and increase engine efficiency to comply with new CO₂ emission and
fuel economy regulations. Increasingly, automakers are examining
their use of materials for even the smallest components.
Engineering thermosets are an effective lightweighting alternative
to heavier conventional steel and aluminum die cast products. They
combine outstanding temperature stability, long-term mechanical
strength, dimensional stability and high chemical resistance.
This paper focuses on two recent projects where (BAKELITE™)
phenolic-based engineering thermosets have successfully replaced
traditional metals in automotive under-the-hood applications and
outperformed engineering thermoplastics also considered for the
applications. First, a water pump housing made with engineering
thermoset material is shown to have good chemical resistance to
coolants without additional corrosion protection and to maintain
its mechanical properties. Second, a vacuum pump made with
engineering thermoset material has lower overall weight, higher
dimensional stability and better fatigue properties than a similar
design made from die-cast aluminum.
Finally, the paper describes the recycling options for
engineering thermoset materials.