Siemens VDO pioneers automotive use of Stanyl PA46

Stanyl polyamide 46 (PA46), often used in non-automotive e-motor end-laminates thanks to its thin-wall strength and heat resistance, finds its first in-car use in an automatic braking system (ABS) pump motor by Siemens VDO.

In the compact, newly designed e-motor, Stanyl resin enables a 0.4-0.6mm, ultra-thin-wall design that maximizes both the laminate size and the number of wire windings. It provides a cost-effective way to optimize the motor assembly process while insulating the wire windings electrically from the metal rotor armature. The Stanyl end-laminate retains working rigidity and dimensional stability up to 290°C, higher than most thermoplastics subjected to wire winding tension load.

In direct current (DC) e-motors, wire windings around metal rotor induce a magnetic flux. This energy causes the motor armature to rotate within an encompassing magnetic field, usually provided by permanent magnets around the armature.

Relatively speaking, Stanyl allows either thinner end-laminates, which result in a more stable winding process, or larger e-motor sizes suited for cost-effective usage of end-laminates. Ultra-thin end-laminates, which position and insulate the wires using the smallest possible volume, help reduce assembly and system costs due to the excellent toughness and flow of the material.

"Stanyl resins have been used extensively in e-motors outside of automotive, but Siemens VDO is providing the first purely in-car application," said Richard Frissen, ADTS Manager Automotive for DSM Engineering Plastics.

"When Siemens VDO engineers began the search for the right material, they were aware of Stanyl's suitability for high heat applications as a result of the company's longstanding collaborative relationship with DSM. Together we were able to design the right end-laminate for this need, one that provides a good balance of economics and rigorous functionality."