Jul 2 2012
An oil sump moulded from DuPont Zytel nylon resin is helping the Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania meet new challenges with regard to noise, emissions and weight. The lightweight yet equally robust oil sump - the lower shell of the oil pan module - is among the host of innovative technical solutions incorporated by Scania in its new Euro 6 engines.
An oil sump molded from DuPont™ Zytel® nylon resin is among the host of innovative technical solutions incorporated by Scania in its new Euro 6 engines. It has enabled a reduction in the weight of the component by over 50 percent, or 6 kg, versus its aluminum predecessor to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.
The ground-breaking application was produced in Sweden by the Plastal Group AB, a leading supplier of engineered plastics to the automotive industry, with the material, design and processing support of DuPont representatives in the country and across Europe and the input of prototype specialists Idé-Pro of Skive, Denmark.
Among the range of technological highlights contained within the new 440 and 480 hp (324 and 353 kW) 13-litre Euro 6-compliant engines, unveiled by Scania in spring 2011, is the premiere of an oil sump moulded from a heat-stabilized, glass-fibre reinforced grade of Zytel 66 nylon. The adoption of the DuPont material for this application - a first for the truck market and only the second development for commercial production vehicles worldwide following the launch of the award-winning Daimler oil pan module in 2008 - has enabled a reduction in the weight of the component by over 50 percent, or 6 kg, versus its aluminium predecessor to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Perhaps just as significantly, with regard to the environmental impact of the noise emitted by trucks, Scania found switching from metal to plastic in the oil sump dampens engine noise to help meet Euro 6 noise emission standards.
The particular grade of Zytel used for the Scania oil sump is a 35 percent glass fibre reinforced, heat stabilized and lubricated polyamide 66 that is considered a material of choice for harsh, under-the-hood applications involving high temperatures and oil. Thanks to its low melt viscosity it readily fills thin section moulds, which, in combination with fast set up times, contributes to very fast moulding cycles. According to the development team at Scania, their main reasons for choosing Zytel nylon were that it meets technical requirements when used in oxidised oil and still provides the necessary level of impact performance.
Having settled on the initial design and material, Scania contacted Idé-Pro to undertake the first steps in the parts' development. Idé-Pro not only produces tools and moulds parts, but also offers the development tools and expertise needed during the prototype stage. In such a way the design of the mould could be optimized to minimize warpage.
Beyond material selection, DuPont also assisted Scania in refining the sump's design and the production process, particularly with regard to achieving a consistently tight seal between the sump and the engine. This required very precise tolerance control of a large component, measuring 847mm (length) x 467mm (width) x 203mm (height), achieved by comprehensive mould flow analyses, prototype testing and ongoing optimisation of processing parameters. "Ribbing on the underside of the sump also plays a key role in remaining within the permitted tolerances for the part, as well as performing a secondary function as a defensive shield against stone impacts," said Murray Smith, development specialist at DuPont Performance Polymers in Sweden.
Its effectiveness in this role was tested at the DuPont European Technical Centre in Geneva, where a high-speed impact compressed air cannon was used to fire steel balls at an angle of 45 degrees and at a speed of 80 kph (50 mph) at the sump. These tests confirmed that the ribs effectively dissipate the impact energy, becoming damaged in the process, while the structural integrity of the sump remains preserved.