Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: Vyncolit | Subject: Glass-fibre-reinforced engineering phenolic
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 28 November 2002
Composite manifold for BMW V8 engine
wins award
For its part in the development of a unique intake manifold for the new eight-cylinder 7 series BMW, Vyncolit has received the 2002 Innovation Award from AVK-TV, the German Composite Federation.
For its part in the development of a unique intake manifold for the new eight-cylinder 7 series BMW, Vyncolit has received the 2002 Innovation Award from AVK-TV, the German Composite Federation Development of the manifold was a co-operative project between the automaker BMW Group, system supplier Pierburg, component manufacturer Baumgarten and Vyncolit, the materials supplier
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 1 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Stainless performance for for effluent plant
Nature Environmental Solutions (NES) has recently delivered a 100,000-litre continuous biological treatment unit to a large Danish manufacturer.
Radical design for modular helmet
Sheffield-based AME Product Development Solutions has created a modular helmet for Modular Helmet Systems.
The challenge was to develop an eight-cylinder petrol engine that would generate an increased level of torque compared with its predecessor.
Key to achieving this was the introduction of a unique, continuously variable intake manifold, injection moulded in Vyncolit's glass-fibre-reinforced engineering phenolic.
At the outset the system supplier took the decision to develop the complete system in engineering thermoplastics in order to take advantage of both the weight and cost savings they offered.
Further reading
Rapid prototypes use third generation resins
AME Product Development Solutions has created the first rapid prototypes using new third generation resins on its Viper stereolithography (SLA) machines.
TSMC rewards gas supply
San Fu Gases Company has been awarded the electronic gas supplier of the year award by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
Initially the intake unit, comprising eight-cylinder air inlets and eight specially shaped rotors, was prototyped in materials such as glass fibre reinforced PPS and PPA.
However, these failed because of the complexity of the construction and the materials' lack of dimensional stability at the elevated temperatures demanded for the application.
Further trials led to the selection of Vyncolit mouldable phenolic composite because it provided an optimum balance of thermomechanical properties, including high elastic modulus even at 140C, a temperature at which engineering thermoplastics exhibit a significant reduction in stiffness.
Working in partnership with both Pierburg and Baumgarten, Vyncolit proposed its glass fibre/bead reinforced Vyncolit X7250 material for the unit housing.
The filler combination of this grade, together with the easy flow of phenolic resin provided for optimum mouldability and dimensional stability.
For the rotors Vyncolit suggested its high-performance Vyncolit X6952 grade, a 55% high glass-fibre-reinforced phenolic compound, giving excellent mechanical and thermal performance.
Additionally, optimised binding between the phenolic resin and glass fibres delivered the high dynamic properties required by the parts.
Moreover, the low density of the Vyncolit material combined with an average wall thickness of only 3mm for the housing, resulted in the complete plastic unit weighing only 5kg including metal inserts.
In making the award, the AVK-TV jury made special mention of the optimised design of the unit with regard to function and weight.
• Vyncolit: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
