Interesting little NYT article....
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/au...25PLASTIC.html

I think a plastic rotary would fry though....

 

i think it looks pretty cool

 

I think this might be feasible if the polymer wouldn't soften until at least 400F. Unfortunately, most thermo-softening polymers soften around the boiling point of water. That doesn't mean that it wouldn't work; but I suspect that you'd have to use a ceramic liner instead of aluminum one.

 

As long as you have a properly designed cooling system, it won't get more than a few hundred degrees. The hottest surfaces in a rotary are right at the plug area. Parts of the rotor face can hit nearly 500 degrees but typically stay in the 350-450 range. A standard piston engine block could be made of a polymer but use liners made of metal and stay well within spec for many materials. Strength is the key though as the material will lose strength as temperature rises. Overheating one would probably be catastrophic though.

 

wow i have no memory of a plastic engined car in IMSA Camel lights races-- that should have got more press

 

I can see it now...

"In order to get your replacement engine you will have to return the core to us."
"But the engine core melted through the bottom of the car and is now a large puddle on the left lane of I-80!"

 

this is really awesome, hopefully the tech will catch on, sounds like Mr. Holztberg has had a long road to get some momentum built though,,,