Solvay's Amodel® PPA is Used by Cooper Standard in Unique Coolant Flow Valve for Chevrolet Volt
ALPHARETTA, Ga. - Cooper Standard, a Novi, Mich.-based global supplier of automotive sealing, fluid, and anti-vibration systems, uses Amodel® polyphthalamide (PPA) from Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, a leading global supplier of high-performance thermoplastics for the automotive industry, in a unique coolant flow valve for the innovative Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended-range capability.
The high-tech valve is designed to control the fluids used to temper the battery system to manage optimum operating temperature, while maximizing efficiency and longevity. The battery thermal management system works to maintain a stable temperature for the 16.5-kWh battery. The electric valve controls the flow of coolant by opening or closing to maintain the optimum temperature of the battery. For the valve housing, Amodel® PPA delivers strong dimensional stability, exceptional elevated thermal performance under pressure, and stronger resistance to ethylene glycol.
Amodel® PPA exceeds the application performance requirements, providing a good margin of safety for this under-the-hood device, according to Dave Malone, Advanced Engineer for Electromechanical Systems for Cooper Standard. "Amodel® PPA has a wide range of uses within our valves from caps, covers, and housings to connectors," said Malone. "The material meets Cooper Standard's manufacturing requirement to communize raw materials for components of the valve."
Amodel® PPA has been the preferred material in engine cooling components because of its high retention of mechanical properties over 5000 hours in ethylene glycol (engine coolant). Other competing materials such as conventional nylons (nylon 6,6) have failed to withstand the requirements of these systems due to significant loss of mechanical properties when exposed to ethylene glycol.
"This unique application demonstrates the high-performance capabilities of Amodel® PPA in electric vehicles, extending its already extensive use in automotive thermal management systems," explained Andre Carvalho, global market manager for automotive for Solvay Specialty Polymers.
The injection molded electric valve, measuring 5 inches (12.7 cm) between tube extremities, 3-inches (7.6 cm) in diameter, and 4 inches (10.2 cm) high, has most of its injection molded parts made of Amodel® A-1933 HSL, a 33% glass-filled grade.
Copper Standard has already made extensive use of Amodel® PPA previously in quick connects for fuel systems. In response to tougher corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) regulations and stricter emission standards, global automotive OEMs have identified new ways to reduce the cost and weight of engine cooling components. Over the years, they have increasingly moved to high-performance thermoplastics such as polyphthalamide (PPA) as a lightweight replacement for metal in a broad range of engine cooling applications.
Amodel® PPA is one of the industry's most specified materials for high-temperature automotive under-the-hood applications. For more than 20 years, it has been known for its high flow/fast cycling, high heat distortion temperature (HDT), excellent chemical resistance, low moisture absorption/high dimensional stability, and impact performance for practical toughness.
About Cooper Standard
Cooper Standard, headquartered in Novi, Mich., is a leading global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry. Products include body sealing systems, fluid handling systems and anti-vibration systems. Cooper Standard employs approximately 21,500 people globally and operates in 19 countries around the world. For more information, visit the company's website at www.cooperstandard.com.
About Solvay Specialty Polymers
Solvay Specialty Polymers manufactures more products with more performance than any other polymer company in the world. The company supplies over 1500 products across 33 brands of high-performance polymers - fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, aromatic ultra polymers, high-barrier polymers and cross-linked high-performance compounds - for use in Aerospace, Alternative Energy, Automotive, Healthcare, Membranes, Oil & Gas, Packaging, Plumbing, Semiconductors, Wire & Cable, and other markets. Learn more at www.solvayspecialtypolymers.com.
Solvay is an international chemical Group committed to sustainable development with a clear focus on innovation and operational excellence. Its recent acquisition of specialty chemicals company Rhodia created a much larger player which is realizing over 90% of its sales in markets where it is among the top 3 global leaders. Solvay offers a broad range of products that contribute to improving quality of life and its customers' performance in markets such as consumer goods, construction, automotive, energy, water and environment, and electronics. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and its companies employ about 29,000 people in 55 countries and generated EUR 12.7 billion in net sales in 2011 (pro forma). Solvay SA (Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on NYSE Euronext in Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR).
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