Polyamide 46 finds new automotive applications

30 March 2006

Stanyl® polyamide 46 (PA46), often used in non-automotive e-motor end-laminates due to its thin-wall strength and heat resistance, finds its first in-car use in an anti-blocking system (ABS) pump motor by Siemens VDO. Material supplier DSM Engineering Plastics says that in the compact, newly designed e-motor, Stanyl resin enables a 0.4-0.6 mm, ultra-thin-wall design that maximizes both the laminate size and the number of wire windings. It provides a cost-effective way to optimize the motor assembly process while insulating the wire windings electrically from the metal rotor armature. The Stanyl end-laminate retains working rigidity and dimensional stability up to 290°C, higher than most thermoplastics subjected to wire winding tension load.

According to the company, in direct current (DC) e-motors, wire windings around metal rotor induce a magnetic flux. This energy causes the motor armature to rotate within an encompassing magnetic field, usually provided by permanent magnets around the armature. Relatively speaking, Stanyl allows either thinner end-laminates, which result in a more stable winding process, or larger e-motor sizes suited for cost-effective usage of end-laminates. Ultra-thin end-laminates, which position and insulate the wires using the smallest possible volume, help reduce assembly and system costs due to the excellent toughness and flow of the material.