AGY Fibers to be Included in Polimotor 2 Composite Car Engine

AGY has reached a huge milestone after its range of high performance fibers have been selected to be part of the development of the Polimotor 2 engine presently under development with Matti Holtzberg of Composite Castings, LLC.

The project is intended to further demonstrate the capabilities of composites in the engine applications that conventionally use metal components. The engine’s block will use AGY fibers in order to fully maximize the mechanical performance of the block while ensuring the lowest possible weight. Reports say that the final engine will weigh approximately 64 kg., which would be a 41 kg. reduction in weight over a similar metal engine. The developmental engine is slated to be installed in a race car that will compete at the Petit Le Mans at the Road Atlanta course later this year, with other races added at a later date.

AGY’s experience in manufacturing high performance glass fibers and ability to create custom products, has paved the way to their inclusion of the fibers for this program. The company develops glass fiber solutions and products to replace conventional metal components in multiple industries and programs, including medical implants and aerospace structures.

In a statement, Iain Montgomery, Director of New Business Development at AGY, said that the Polimotor 2 project is eyed as an ideal opportunity, to once again, demonstrate how AGY’s glass fibers could offer the best solution in thermoset and thermoplastic components which replace metallic components where weight is cut down while maintaining mechanical and thermal performance is key to success. He added that through this developmental collaboration, they would work with Polimotor’s creator Matti Holtzberg, and with the suppliers of its parts to prove this concept. “This program will provide a path for auto makers to reduce the weight of their engines, thereby decreasing their fuel consumption and CO2 emissions which is one global challenge in the automotive market.”

The Polimotor 2 engine will be a four-cylinder layout with a double overhead camshaft design. The premium quality glass fibers will be integrated in the opposite block casting and will be considered for other parts on this motor which are being designed in different thermoplastics. Matti Holtzberg initially developed the engine’s design in the mid-1980s, but Polimotor2 will employ the latest technologies available in composite casting to create a second generation product, building upon the first successful development of the original Polimotor engine block.