Weight reduction is an essential requirement for automotive and transports in general.
It is in this context that the project of metal replacement was developed by a major multinational company operating in this sector for the manufacture of a vacuum pump housing (EPV pump) for the brake oil circuit.
This product is required to perform a number of structural tasks, and is the result of a significant sum of functions, as evidenced by the many connections on the cover.
The area of use is the underhood, close to the engine, which is a chemically challenging environment with temperatures ranging from -40°C to +120°C.
As in all pressure circuits, maximum dimensional stability is an essential requirementto avoid pressure losses to be compensated with seals, and the risk of pump malfunction.
In this case, the body should also provide high thermal conductivity to allow for the best braking system operation.
LATI accepted the challenge and developed the LATICONTHER 62 GRG/500, a PA6-based compound with 50% graphite and short glass fiber reinforcement.
With a thermal conductivity of 15 W/mK, this compound was chosen to mold covers featuring not only mechanical strength and dimensional accuracy, but also able to remove part of the heat generated by the hydraulic circuit drives.
The pump body made of conductive thermoplastic material successfully passed even the most feared stumbling block to metal replacement projects, i.e. fatigue strength tests under operation to determine product reliability over time. Ease of molding, possibility of production waste recovery, and the absolute compliance with the most stringent regulations on the protection of human health and the environment made this a winning project also from the point of view of the final product cost.