来自德国Fraunhofer的一个研发团队近日将塑料应用在发动机上。虽然活塞等零部件仍然使用金属材料制成,但是发动机的外壳部分则改用了塑料。该研发团队表示,与目前的铝合金外壳相比,塑料发动机外壳在重量上减轻了20%,在提升汽车性能的同时还可以节省更多燃油。他们使用注模成型技术制成的发动机壳体能够和金属一样,在保证强度的同时,承受工作时的高温、高压和振动。虽然这款发动机仍然使用了一些金属零部件,但是 A research and development team from Fraunhofer, Germany, recently applied plastic to the engine. Although the piston and other parts are still made of metal materials, but the engine casing part of the plastic instead. The team said the plastic engine case is 20% lighter in weight than the current aluminum alloy case, saving even more fuel while improving vehicle performance. They use injection molding technology engine casing made of the same metal, while ensuring the strength, withstand high temperature, high pressure and vibration at work. Although this engine still uses some metal parts, however