The automotive industry is increasingly adopting lightweighting strategies aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing CO₂ emissions by replacing heavier metal components with advanced engineering plastics. However, substituting metal with plastic requires redesigning component characteristics such as stiffness, durability, and thermal performance, as plastics respond differently under mechanical and thermal stress.
To support this process, manufacturers are using Ansys Granta materials information software, which provides access to extensive material databases, including the Global Polymers database containing simulation-ready polymer data.
One application highlighted involves GENESTAR™ PA9T, a heat-resistant polyamide resin developed by Kuraray Co., Ltd., for automotive cooling system components such as thermostat housings. Due to its lower density, the material is being evaluated for its potential to support vehicle weight reduction compared to conventional metal-based components. By integrating Kuraray’s material data into Ansys simulation tools, engineers aim to evaluate mechanical behavior and mold-release stresses virtually before physical manufacturing begins.
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