Plastic Car Engines. The way of the future??? - Page 2

ST · 29-11-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RG

No. I mean runs as in turns to 1440rpm. It's crazy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8ut5ND3agI

That is incredible, the attention to detail is insane. Has he built anything else?

ryanstev · 29-11-2009, 07:16 PM

I'm still waiting for ceramic engines.
I read about it years ago, so could be wrong, but I'm sure the article I read said that due to the reduction in friction that a 1 litre engine had the power output of a 2 litre.
Ie double the power for any given size.

Also it needs no oil or cooling, so there would be weight savings there too.

outback_ute · 30-11-2009, 02:02 PM

My concern would be the long-term stability of plastic components, and oxidation or brittleness.

Ryanstev, I've heard of the US Army investigating ceramic tank engines - this was to get rid of vulnerable radiators. The engines used liquid glass as a lubricant. Don't think they got past the experimental stage.

Wally · 30-11-2009, 02:22 PM

Wasn't it SRI that were experimenting with polymer engines?

Fev · 30-11-2009, 03:12 PM

I wanna track down one of those 2.3L Pinto engines!!!

318hp@9500rpm, 69KGS!!!! thats orgasmic

Fev · 30-11-2009, 03:58 PM

Apparently these engines were priced between $15,000 and $17,000 each. This was back in 1980... ouch!

Found the images on http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2165621

ieatsports_cars · 30-11-2009, 05:58 PM

so if it is true, then i might be able to afford a 9.95 special GT from crazy clarks lol

Airmon · 30-11-2009, 06:00 PM

Are we referring to Plastics solely? Or are people confusing composites like Carbon Fibre with plastics?

It would be possible, but alot more expensive then metals. Alot of things would need to be looked at and I can't see it taking off anytime soon.
There is always constant development in the field of Polymers and in the future it may become viable. Manufacturers are already using polymers to replace parts that were traditionally metals (intake manifolds for example), but for cost, strength and ability to withstand high temperatures, at the moment metal still trumps all.

Ceramics would also have its benefits in an engine but ceramics are much more brittle and usually more dense and not suited to tensile stresses.

Fev · 01-12-2009, 09:41 AM

It's Trolon plastic polymer, developed 30 years ago. That race car easily handled a 5 hour race at 9500rpm so i don't see why it would be too hard to re-create nowdays with our better technology

trippytaka · 01-12-2009, 12:57 PM

Plastic is made from oil, oil is going to run out... faster if engine parts were also made from plastic. We should really think about making less things out of plastic.

aussie muscle · 01-12-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trippytaka

Plastic is made from oil, oil is going to run out... faster if engine parts were also made from plastic. We should really think about making less things out of plastic.

Plastic is also recyclable :alien2:

Bossxr8 · 01-12-2009, 06:38 PM

And metal isn't ?

xtremerus · 01-12-2009, 09:47 PM

^^^^^^^

trippytaka · 01-12-2009, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

Plastic is also recyclable :alien2:

True, but isn't it only certain types of plastics thatv can be recycled? Would using plastic in an engine change composition (through extreme heat etc) and subject it to contamination? It might add wuite a bit of cost to the recycling process.

Dunno, not sure. Anyone?