Stringent regulations and industry norms require automotive manufacturers to reduce weight of vehicles. This can be achieved by replacing metal parts with plastics. Developments have led to introduction of polymers at K 2010 that reduce manufacturing costs by up to 50%, and significantly reduce the weight of many engine parts compared to metal assemblies, alternatives for PVC, TPU, and natural rubber in automotive slush molded interior soft skins, grades that result in lower cost, lighter weight parts with increased service life, grades that offer long-term performance at very high temperatures. Arkema showcased its extensive range of specialty polymers, the concrete embodiment of its R&D drive to develop innovative chemicals that increasingly focus on the challenges of sustainable development. Bio-sourced plastics today account for 30% of Arkema’s technical polymer business, taking up around 2/3rds of its R&D activity. These plastics feature properties that are equivalent or superior to those of their fossil-fuel-based counterparts. It’s expertise in castor oil chemistry for over 60 years with its Rilsan® polyamide 11, 100% derived from this chemistry, has helped introduce four new polymers: • Pebax® Rnew, a biosourced elastomer up to 90% derived from castor oil • Platamid® Rnew, the first hotmelt adhesive entirely of renewable origin • Rilsan® Clear Rnew, the first transparent 54% biosourced polyamide • Rilsan® HT, an ultra tough high temperature polymer fulfilling today’s general need for lighter materials Rilsan® HT, the latest arrival in this family, is one of the rare polymers based on polyphthalamide (PPA) capable of replacing metal used for pipes subjected to high temperatures in automotive under-the-hood applications. It offers another unique characteristic for PPA-based materials- flexibility, thereby opening up inconceivable possibilities to replace metal. Pipes made from these pipes help cut down manufacturing costs by up to 50%, and significantly reduce the weight of many engine parts compared to metal assemblies. A unique range of polyphthalamides is being offered accommodating every converting technique (extrusion, blow moulding and injection moulding), which allows much freedom in terms of assembling moulded components (connectors) with extruded components (flexible pipes). These resins contain contain up to 70% biosourced carbon, and therefore fulfill the increasingly stringent environmental objectives of the automotive sector. Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. showcased six of its latest innovations including alternatives for PVC, TPU, and natural rubber in automotive slush molded interior soft skins, medical and personal care, wire and cable, and protective films. Automotive Slush Molded Interior Soft Skins (PVC & TPU alternative) is an innovative development resulting from a strategic alliance with SO.F.TER provides a major technology and performance leap for the automotive industry. It can be used to replace PVC, which has been the predominant material for interior soft skins using the slush molding process. PVC has many limitations including a high level of plasticizer (which tends to migrate) and flexible PVC becomes brittle and loses functionality over time. This SBC product allows manufacturers to achieve significant improvements in low temperature performance, fogging, and recyclability, while still using existing slush molding equipment and standard processing conditions. The additional benefits realized also include lower manufacturing costs due to reduced service temperatures and decreased processing time. Victrex Polymer Solutions added a new thermoplastic compound to its range of VICTREX® WGTM premium wear grade polymers. The PAEK-based compound, called VICTREX WG102, was developed in response to requests from engineers and OEMs for improved reliability, reduced failure rates, and increased energy efficiency to meet the requirements of more demanding wear applications in the automotive and processing equipment industries.This premium wear grades allows customers to produce lower cost, lighter weight parts with increased service life compared to parts made from metals, polyimide (PI) and polyamide-imide (PAI). These polymers have improved wear resistance and reduced coefficient of friction when compared to PI and PAI. The new polymer is designed for higher temperature tribological applications for high strength and stiffness. It offers 25-75% lower wear rates and a reduced, and very stable, coefficient of friction to meet customer requirements for wear at higher speed and load application performance in challenging thermal and chemical environments. It offers excellent high temperature performance, and good dimensional and thermal stability up to and beyond 300°C (572°F). It is chemically resistant to aggressive environments, including service fluids, and contains no polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). With a 50 lower coefficient of friction, these polymers produce less drag and frictional heating, so parts run cooler and last longer over a wider range of pressure and velocity conditions than PI and PAI wear grades. They can provide higher reliability, longer life and reduced risk of failures for components operating in extreme environments and this increases the operating range of machines at higher speeds and pressures. The polymer’s excellent melt flow allows thin-walled intricate component design and the ability to consolidate complex parts, to reduce part costs. Smaller components result in more efficient heat transfer through the plastic component into the metal counterface or to the lubricant. DuPont Performance Polymers added a new Zytel® PLUS nylon resin and two Zytel® HTN PPA resins to its breakthrough family of products designed to provide the kind of long-term protection against aggressive environments that can, at minimum, double the life of a component. Based on DuPontTM SHIELD Technology, the new resins will stand up to long-term exposure to hot oil, calcium chloride, impact after ageing and temperatures as high as 230°C. These new polymers further enable the auto industry to adopt lightweight plastics and eliminate metal while helping to ensure that components will last the service life of the vehicle. The technology combines several innovations, including a new polymer backbone, polymer modifications and a special set of additives to enhance performance. The exact combination and composition of chemistries are optimized for each product based on the targeted application. The first products to emerge with the system is a new family of nylons that are said to maintain high levels of performance despite exposure to hot oil, hot air, calcium chloride and other aggressive automotive chemicals. The new family launches with four products primarily targeted at the automotive industry where the drive to take out weight and cost adds up to improved fuel economy and reduced carbon emissions. Additional products are planned for later this year. The new portfolio launches with: • Zytel Plus 95G35 nylon - This core product targets long-term performance at very high temperatures (up to 210°C or even 230°C for shorter periods). • Zytel Plus 95G50 nylon - Additional benefits include better stiffness, creep at high temperatures. • Zytel Plus 93G35 nylon - Additional benefits include improved weld lines, good performance in burst tests. • Zytel Plus 90G30 nylon - This grade targets exceptional resistance to hot engine coolant plus excellent properties in contact with water. Potential automotive applications include: charge air coolers, exhaust mufflers, turbo air ducts, engine mounts, resonators, cylinder head covers, oil pans, EGR coolers, oil modules, thermostats, transmission components - such as front covers - and radiator end tanks where calcium chloride resistance is especially important due to road treatments. Clariant presented an innovation for automotive plastics with the launch of unique UV stabilizer Hostavin® N845PP for polyolefin (PO) compounds for interior applications. In addition to UV protection, the new grade offers low fogging and low migration performance plus processing efficiency. The grade has excellent compatibility with the PO matrix. This is a 2-in-1 active ingredient, which means that the UV stabilizer is enclosed in a non-traditional carrier. The carrier ensures good processability of the PO compound, contributing to the knock-on performance benefits. Supplied in granule rather than powder form, it is free-flowing and dust-free. This enables compounders and masterbatch producers to control dosage levels more easily, allowing simple and efficient handling, and eliminates the potential for breathing in dust particles.