Thesis worker - Lightweight Plastics for Future Vehicles

30 hp – Lightweight Plastics for Future Vehicles

Introduction

Thesis work is an excellent way to get closer to Scania and Traton and build relationships for the future. Many of today's employees began their Traton career with their degree project.

Background

Reducing the weight of plastic components is an important challenge in the automotive industry. Lighter components require less material, can reduce environmental impact, and contribute to more resource-efficient manufacturing.

At Traton, a new method for manufacturing lightweight plastic components is currently being investigated. The method utilises plastic foaming by introducing gas into the material during injection moulding to create microscopic cells inside the plastic, producing a lightweight structure while maintaining the component's functionality. Although plastic foaming has been used for many years, there is still much to learn about how materials, processing conditions, and internal structure influence the final properties. This thesis aims to contribute to a better understanding of how processing conditions affect the structure and properties of foamed polymer materials.

In this master's thesis, you will focus on measuring how introducing gas into the plastic melt during injection moulding affects the melt’s viscosity and the foam structure. Furthermore, the effect of different process parameters, such as gas pressure and temperature, will be investigated. This will be done by combining experimental work, material testing, and data analysis.

Objective

The objective is to enhance understanding of foamed polymer materials and to support the further development of lightweight plastic manufacturing.

Job description

The thesis work includes:

1. Literature review of plastic foaming.
2. Planning and conducting experimental studies to measure the viscosity of the material during injection moulding.
3. Material characterisation and testing of foamed samples to investigate the structure.
4. Collaboration with external partners, including Polymerinstitutet in Värnamo, to plan and perform experiments.
5. Analysis of experimental results and comparison with theoretical models.
6. Presentation of results and recommendations for further development.

The project combines experimental work, data analysis, and collaboration with engineers and researchers at Traton. The student will have the opportunity to influence the scope and planning of the work with support from the supervisors.

Education/program/focus

Master’s student in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials engineering, engineering physics or equivalent. You should have an interest in experimental work, materials, and manufacturing processes, and like solving practical and technical problems.

Number of students: 1-2

Start date for the thesis work: January 2027

Estimated time required: 30 hp (20 weeks)

Contact persons and supervisors

Linn Parmér, Supervisor, [email protected]

Viktor Wåhlin, Manager, [email protected]

Application:

Your application must include a CV, a personal letter, and a transcript of grades.

A background check might be conducted for this position. We are conducting interviews continuously and may close the recruitment earlier than the date specified.

Education