Applications of Modified Nylon in the Automotive Industry!

To enhance vehicle safety, reduce vehicle weight, and lower costs, many automotive parts and accessories will be transitioning from metal materials to modified nylon materials. This shift has effectively improved safety, comfort, corrosion resistance, and fatigue resistance. In addition, certain automotive components will also require surface coatings. Next, let’s explore the applications and performance requirements of modified nylon in automotive parts and accessories.

Peripheral components of automobile engines and their requirements for plastic materials. As the engine is the “heart” of a vehicle, the performance requirements for the materials used in its peripheral components are extremely stringent. First, due to the effects of thermal radiation, conduction, and convection, these components must withstand high-temperature environments over extended periods—typically ranging from approximately -40°C to 140°C. At the same time, they must also resist impacts from sand and gravel splashing up from the road surface and be capable of enduring the corrosive effects of various automotive fluids, including gasoline, diesel fuel, lubricating oils, cleaning agents, long-life antifreeze solutions, brake fluids, battery electrolytes, as well as additives, alcohols, and high-temperature water found in engine oils. Furthermore, to accommodate the reduced overall size of engines and the resulting compression of engine compartment space, vehicle weight and volume have been effectively reduced, thereby achieving the goal of lowering energy consumption. However, as the number of vehicles decreases, firewall thickness has gradually become thinner, leading to increased vibration and noise during driving. Given these harsh operating conditions and the special requirements placed on structural components, the engineering plastics used in peripheral parts of automobile engines must possess the following characteristics.

1. It possesses sufficient strength, elastic modulus, and impact resistance, with particularly outstanding impact resistance at low temperatures.

2. It features excellent shock absorption, wear resistance, and noise reduction performance.

3. It should possess oil resistance (e.g., to gasoline, diesel, lubricating oils, etc.), detergent performance, long-lasting antifreeze capability, compatibility with brake fluids and battery electrolytes, as well as resistance to various additives and alcohols present in oils.

For cooling system components, they should also exhibit good hydrolysis resistance and resistance to thermal deformation.

5. Since most of these parts are manufactured using injection molding, and some have extremely complex structures—particularly the intake manifolds produced by the melt-core method—they must be molded using a low-speed, high-pressure injection-molding process. Therefore, the resin must exhibit superior melt flowability; otherwise, it will be difficult to achieve proper shaping.

6. The surface performance is good, especially the surface of the intake manifold should be smooth.

7. It boasts sufficient accuracy, dimensional stability, and durability for long-term use, and it is economically viable.

8. Plastic waste and used parts can be recycled.

Since the components surrounding the engine are primarily exposed to heat and vibration, the materials used for these parts are mostly glass-fiber-reinforced nylon. This is because nylon boasts superior overall performance—its strength, product precision, and dimensional stability have all been significantly enhanced. (Moreover, nylon engineering plastics are also an ideal material for components around the engine.)