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This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Protección peatonal de gran alcance

The PA Ultramid CR from BASF reduces up to 50% lower bumper reinforcements weight

Pedestrian protection of far-reaching

Drafting Interempresas11/05/2010

May 11, 2010

The wake of the Opel Corsa (2006) and the Opel Insignia (spring 2009), the Opel Astra has launched the road a few months later with a lower reinforcement of the bumper (LBS) made of Ultramid CR of BASFplastics. Until the new version of the mini-van Opel Meriva, which debuted in the international exhibition of the engine of Geneva in March of 2010, has a LBS manufactured with Ultramid.

The LBS is a component designed to meet the latest regulations relating to the protection of pedestrians and requires the use of high performance materials. The polyamide has been optimized specifically for the antishocks applications and has already proven his capabilities in other different vehicle components.

The LBS of the Opel Corsa was innovative with regard to the protection of pedestrians that offered, and the Opel Insignia managed to improve on the basis of that experience, enabling the design of a particularly light and fine component that fit into the limited space available for installation.

If you compare the concepts radically opposed in his style of the Opel Astra and Opel Meriva, with the Opel Insignia, the result is that front designs are different for each one, so that none of the four components of the LBS seems to be. Photo: BASF.

Oft-tested simulation program

BASF has developed versions of the LBS by computer with the help of his patented Ultrasim simulation program. The continued expansion of the capabilities of the instrument has enabled the combination and automation of the information required on the local characteristics of a component using numerical optimization methods.

What once was first in the Opel Insignia, the so-called effect morphing or optimization of the form during design calculations, is now the standard technology included in the package of the program offered by BASF to these pieces. Thanks to the great improvement of the accuracy of the predictability, now can almost eliminate the costly and multiple construction of prototypes. Today, the design of demanding components of plastic would be almost impossible without computer programs like these.

The comparison of the LBS of Opel Insignia (top) with manufactured LBS with polypropylene (PP) modified for the impact of other manufacturers of automotive (bottom) showed that: despite presenting a higher rigidity, the manufactured LBS with Ultramid B3WG6 CR for the Opel Insignia is 50% lighter (1 kg to 1.6 kg) that the PP LBS at its widest point, and yet 50% narrower than the piece of PP. photo: BASF.

An LBS made of Ultramid CR offers the end-user a weight saving of around 66% with the same cost and energy absorption

PA to PP for the protection of pedestrians

When compared with the manufactured LBS with polypropylene (PP) modified for impact of other manufacturers of cars shows that the LBS of the Opel Insignia made of Ultramid B3WG6 CR is up to 50% lighter than the PP LBS (1 kg to 1.6 kg) and 50% more narrow at its widest point. Additional studies of both components have shown that the LBS of Opel presents a rigidity and a nearly three times higher energy absorption. Taking into account the cost of the equipment, an LBS made of Ultramid CR offers the end-user a weight saving of around 66% with the same cost and energy absorption. This is especially important when the available installation space is limited and weight requirements are especially demanding.

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