Solvay has Developed Customized Test Benches for the Automotive Industry
LYON, France, November 6, 2014– Solvay Engineering Plastics, a global leader in advanced polyamide solutions, has been collaborating with MAHLE, one of the world’s foremost suppliers of high-quality automotive systems, in the development of oil filter modules using Technyl®polyamide resins.
“Reliable oil management is critical in modern automotive engineering and must ensure that lubricants are properly supplied, cleaned and thermally managed,”says Ralf Kiemlen, Head of Development Oil Filtration Systems at MAHLE Filtersysteme GmbH. “The development and production of complex oil filter modules has long been one of our core competencies and the use of high-performance plastics such as Technyl® has opened a wide design window for part consolidation and functional integration.”Technyl®compounds are used on more than 15 different MAHLE oil modules on the road, today. All of them underwent rigorous testing including long-term ageing resistance in glycol flow according to major OEM specifications and were fully validated in close collaboration with the customer. “Solvay’s experience and part testing laboratory plays an essential role in validating the modules’ required in-use performance”adds Mr. Kiemlen.
Most of Solvay’s bench tests are developed in close collaboration with OEMs and major automotive system suppliers. The current glycol flow test benches at the company’s Technyl®Innovation Centre in Lyon, France, are capable of testing as many as six parts at a time in temperatures of up to 135°C and with oil under static pressure. A new glycol bench will offer the possibility to perform, in parallel, high flow glycol and oil circulation tests at even higher pressures and temperatures.
“We have been supporting MAHLE in many innovative projects for years and are continuously expanding our part testing capabilities to cover even more aspects raised by leading OEMs. This is part of our advanced support package designed to help develop more efficient thermal management components,”states Laurent Perret, Application Laboratory Manager for Solvay Engineering Plastics. “In February 2015, we will be able to manage two flows of media simultaneously, at 150°C with pulsated pressure of up to 10 bar on the glycol side and 16 bar on the oil side.”In addition – and mandatory not just for oil modules – Solvay also offers vibration testing in dedicated shaker equipment furnished with a thermal chamber for temperatures ranging from -35°C to +180°C and capable of test frequencies from 5 to 2.000 Hz. Other available equipment includes a dynamic tensile device for final part testing with a load up to 30kN and hot air pulsated pressure bench reaching air temperatures of up to 220°C.
Solvay’s powerful processing and part trial facilities supplement the comprehensive and differentiated
Technyl®Force product and service offering which includes MMI Technyl®Design for CAE simulations and Sinterline Technyl powders for rapid prototyping.
