In the thriving wave of the modern automotive industry, optimizing the performance of components has become a key issue in enhancing overall vehicle quality. Thrust washers, as crucial components in the automotive drivetrain system, directly impact the efficient and stable operation of vehicles. Special engineering plastic polyimide (PI) materials, with their exceptional performance, play a vital role in the automotive thrust washer sector. Huangshan Jinshi Wood, with its self-developed JSM-PI series polyimide (PI) materials, provides breakthrough solutions for the industry.
In recent years, automotive technology has advanced rapidly, especially with the rise of new energy vehicles, which have brought unprecedented challenges to the industry. To achieve higher fuel efficiency and motor energy utilization, drivetrain systems are showing trends such as high torque, instant acceleration, high rotational speed, compact lightweight designs, and micro-lubrication. These trends act like a precise mirror, clearly reflecting the excellent performance needed in thrust washers: they must exhibit outstanding wear resistance, anti-seizure, and fretting wear capabilities under high pressure and high-speed (PV conditions); maintain a low friction coefficient during high-speed operation; and possess good damping performance, lightweight design, and adaptability to micro-lubrication conditions.
Advantages of JSM-PI Polyimide Materials
Excellent Thermal Stability
JSM-PI polyimide materials have outstanding high-temperature resistance, such as withstanding immersion in molten lead at 327°C without damage. During vehicle operation, especially under high-load conditions, engines and drivetrains generate significant amounts of heat. Thrust washers must maintain stable performance in such high-temperature environments. JSM-PI materials meet these demands, ensuring that thrust washers will not deform or fail due to high temperatures, thus ensuring the normal operation of the vehicle’s drivetrain.
Excellent Wear and Abrasion Resistance
In high-speed conditions (up to 20,000 rpm) with automatic transmission fluid (ATF) for wear and friction testing, thrust washers made of JSM-PI materials (e.g., A-PI-350-21 and A-PI-50049) showed no significant wear, while metal washers such as phosphor bronze experienced seizure. This indicates that JSM-PI materials effectively reduce wear, extend the lifespan of thrust washers, lower the frequency of component replacement, and improve vehicle reliability and durability.
低摩擦係数
JSM-PI materials exhibit a low friction coefficient at high speeds, which helps reduce friction. In automotive drivetrains, a lower friction coefficient means reduced energy loss, which can improve fuel efficiency or motor energy utilization, contributing to better power performance and energy savings for vehicles.
High Damping Performance
Compared to metal materials, PI polyimide materials have higher damping performance. During vehicle operation, vibrations and noise from the drivetrain significantly impact driving comfort. Thrust washers with high damping performance can effectively absorb and dampen vibrations, reduce noise, and improve the vehicle’s NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) performance, providing a quieter and more comfortable environment for passengers.
Lightweight Design and Self-Lubricating Properties
JSM-PI materials are lighter than metals, contributing to a lightweight vehicle design. Additionally, their self-lubricating properties (with optimized oil groove designs for operation under micro-lubrication conditions) ensure they work well even with limited lubrication. This not only meets the automotive demand for compact and lightweight designs but also guarantees the normal operation of thrust washers under low lubrication conditions, reducing wear and failure caused by insufficient lubrication.
As domestic demand for polyimide materials continues to grow, 黄山聚鑫新材料有限公司 is accelerating the development of domestically produced polyimide products, aiming to provide strong material support for the development of related industries in China and assist Chinese manufacturing in achieving independent innovation and breakthroughs in high-end fields.