
23 Mar 2004
ARNITE® PET FROM DSM ENGINEERING PLASTICS EXCELS IN AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE BOOSTER VALVE APPLICATIONS
Arnite® polyethylene terephthalate (PET), from DSM Engineering Plastics, leads in European Automotive brake booster valve body applications. Arnite® dominates in this application, replacing alternative thermoset resins through its exceptional dimensional stability, high strength, and performance at under-bonnet temperatures of up to 130C. Arnite® has also proven to maintain it’s high performance profile for more than 1 million cycles, an important reliability requirement. DSM Engineering Plastics has now set its sights on the US and Asian markets, where designers, like their European counterparts, are moving away from thermoset alternatives in search of higher performance, more cost effective alternatives.
Power brake booster valve bodies demand long-term functionality both for driver comfort and for safety. When a driver presses the brake pedal, the valve body (located inside the engine compartment, typically mounted on the firewall) forces air into one side of the brake booster diaphragm. The diaphragm then moves, helping to push a rod attached to the brake master cylinder, amplifying the driver’s foot pressure. With the foot off the brake, the valve closes and engine vacuum fills both sides of the diaphragm.
Since brake booster valve bodies are mounted under the bonnet, they are subject to wide temperature fluctuations, as well as exposure to a variety of fluids and gases. In operation, the valve bodies must maintain close-tolerance dimensional stability over a long time, resist wear, and retain a highly finished surface. As a safety-related component, the valve bodies demand high performance over long periods of time.
Formerly manufactured from thermoset materials, thermoplastic brake booster valve bodies offer a much better performance to weight balance, greater cost effectiveness, as well as improved design freedom over Thermosets. Arnite® PET provides benchmark performance with fewer post-moulding operations, while at the same time offering significant weight reductions.
DSM Engineering Plastics has more than 10 years experience in brake booster valve applications, working in partnership with leading European automakers to develop materials that meet the requirements of some of the world’s most demanding applications.
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DSM Engineering Plastics
DSM Engineering Plastics is a business group forming part of DSM N.V.’s Performance Materials cluster. DSM Engineering Plastics is a global supplier of various types of polyamides (PA6, PA66 and PA46), polyesters (PBT, PET and TPE-E), polycarbonate and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), and extrudable adhesive resins. These materials are used in technical components for electrical appliances, electronic equipment and cars, as well as in mechanical and extrusion applications.
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Thea Trilsbeek
DSM Engineering Materials
Willem van de Velde
EMG