Plastic for laser welding control systems for engine cooling

Details: Released: 27.07.2012; Last updated: 07.10.2021; Hits: 6679

The "Ultradur LUX" has found an unusual series application in an air flap control for vehicle construction. The engine developer Precision Motors Deutsche Minebea (PM DM) uses the highly laser-transparent and therefore easily laser-weldable plastic from the PBT family (polybutylene terephthalate) from BASF and uses it to manufacture the housing cover of its innovative control module.

The small engine or actuator consists of gearbox, electric motor and electronics, controls the air flaps of vehicles and thus enables improved aerodynamics and lower CO₂Emissions.

The air flow for cooling modern vehicle engines will be controllable in the future and will therefore function even more efficiently than before: Movable air flaps or louvres behind the radiator grille can be closed in cold weather with the help of the actuator and thus help the vehicle engine to reach operating temperature more quickly. At the same time, the closed slats reduce air resistance when driving fast. Fuel can also be saved in this way.

Infrared heater for efficient heat processes in industry

The highly laser-transparent PBT Ultradur LUX not only has the properties that are particularly important in electronics and electrical engineering, such as rigidity and dimensional accuracy, even in damp environments. Its central property is the enormously improved transparency for near infrared light from 800 to 1100 nm wavelength, especially for laser welding - precisely for the area that is decisive for laser transmission welding. Due to the increased laser transparency, the material can be welded faster than other PBT types on the market. In addition, the process window is considerably wider and the risk of damaging the material is significantly reduced. The type Ultradur LUX B4300 G4 used here is reinforced with 20% glass fibers.