Solvay to lead all-plastic engine development
Developer of speciality polymers for automotives, Solvay, has announced it is taking a leadership role in the development of the second-generation Polimotor 2 all-plastic automotive engines.
The engines, which are to be tested in a race car next year, demonstrate the company’s advanced speciality polymer technologies in lightweighting through metal replacement.
The Polimotor 2 aims to develop an engine weighing less than today’s standard production engine and the collaborative project aims to set the stage for innovative breakthroughs in future commercial automobiles.
The automotive industry is increasingly relying on ultra-resilient materials solutions to replace metal parts in exterior, interior and under hood applications, enabling the industry to comply with tougher fuel and emission regulations.
Augusto Di Donfrancesco, President of Solvay’s Speciality Polymers Global Business Unit, said: “The Polimotor project is yet another pioneering opportunity for Solvay Speciality Polymers to bring its innovations to the forefront and to expand its light weighting offerings.
“Through this partnership we will further challenge our boundaries, showing all the more our-high performance polymers are solutions in reducing weight and lowering fuel consumption, and that they are a key contributor in diminishing CO2 emissions.”
In Polimotor 2, Solvay will replace up to ten metal engine components, including the water pump, oil pump, water inlet/outlet, throttle body, fuel rail, cam sprockets and others, with parts made from seven of its high-performing thermoplastic materials.
The Polimotor 2 four-cylinder, double-overhead CAM engine will ultimately be installed in a Norma M-20 concept car in 2016 for competitive racing at Lime Rock Park, Connecticut.
Solvay contributed a major role toward the success of the first Polimotor engine, conceived by U.S engineer Matt Holtzberg in the early 1980s.