ESTUDO DA VIABILIDADE DE CONFECÇÃO DE UM CÁRTER AUTOMOTIVO COM A BLENDA PC/ABS

Abstract

To optimize vehicle performance, it is desirable to replace metallic parts with lighter materials. Among the materials that can be used for this purpose, the PC/ABS polymer blend stands out due to its low density and advantageous properties for the automotive sector. Therefore, this study investigated the feasibility of replacing the aluminum metallic crankcase with a PC/ABS automotive crankcase through mechanical tests such as tensile, flexural, and impact tests, degradation tests in automotive oil, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), computational simulation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and also conducted the 3D printing of a prototype automotive crankcase. The mechanical tests showed a decrease in impact resistance and tensile strength after degradation tests in automotive oil; however, the maximum stress, Young's modulus, and flexural strength showed no significant changes before and after the degradation test. FTIR spectra indicate that the ABS present in the blend is responsible for chemodegradation and thermodegradation during the degradation test. DMA revealed that the blend exhibits a glass transition temperature between 111-148 °C, which would allow its use in an automotive crankcase. Computational simulation demonstrated the possibility of applying the material in an automotive crankcase; however, further testing and evaluation of its use on a pilot scale are necessary.