DuPont Performance Polymers Launches New Nylon With Added Performance to Subtract Weight, Cost in Automotive and Other Consumer Products
A new family of nylon products from DuPont Performance Polymers – DuPont™ Zytel® PLUS nylon – delivers excellent performance levels and importantly maintains those excellent performance levels much longer than traditional nylons despite exposure to hot oil, hot air, calcium chloride and other aggressive automotive chemicals.
“Performance demands in automotive continue to increase,” said Patrick Ferronato, global marketing director -- DuPont Automotive Performance Polymers. “Zytel® PLUS nylon meets these demands with better durability while maintaining the design and processing ease familiar with nylon to invite even more opportunities to replace metal for cost and weight savings.”
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 2010.
Whether exposed to calcium chloride or to 3,000 or 4,000 hours of hot air, hot oil, water, long-life coolant, members of the Zytel® PLUS nylon family outperform traditional nylon products on the market today, according to recent tests, which are available on line at www.zytelplus.dupont.com. “In many cases, Zytel® PLUS nylon will be able to double the life of thermoplastic components exposed to hot, chemically aggressive and humid environments,” said Rob Palmer, research and development senior research associate -- DuPont Performance Polymers. “Zytel® PLUS nylon creates the opportunity to replace even more metal and some specialty polymers, while simplifying processing.”
DuPont™ Zytel® PLUS nylon gets its ability to withstand long term exposure to heat and chemicals from SHIELD Technology, only from DuPont. DuPont™ SHIELD Technology combines several innovations, including a new polymer backbone, polymer modifications and a special set of additives, to enhance many performance characteristics. The exact combination and composition of chemistries are optimized for each product based on the targeted application.
The new portfolio launches with:
Zytel® PLUS 95G35 nylon - Requisite, core product delivers exceptionally good long-term performance at very high temperatures (up to 210˚C or even 230°C for shorter periods) PLUS provides great surface appearance, resistance to calcium chloride solutions.- Zytel® PLUS 95G50 nylon - Exceptionally good long-term performance at very high temperatures (up to 210˚C or even 230°C for shorter periods) PLUS better stiffness, creep at high temperatures.
Zytel® PLUS 93G35 nylon - Good long-term performance despite exposure to heat PLUS improved weld lines, good performance in burst tests.- Zytel® PLUS 90G30 nylon - Exceptional resistance to hot engine coolant PLUS excellent properties in contact with water.
Target 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. “While targeted initially at the automotive market, we expect broader interest, especially where superior surface appearance, resistance to aging and/or ease of processing is desired,” said Karin Weining, global marketing director, industrial, consumer, energy -- DuPont Performance Polymers.
“This new product is the result of several breakthroughs from research and development aimed at cost-effectively improving performance and especially durability to meet automotive market needs,” said Bob Lawton, global technology manager -- DuPont™ Zytel® nylon. “The convergence of the chemistries produced a step change in durability that is amazing. We are investigating other polymers whose performance also could be greatly enhanced with DuPont™ SHIELD Technology.”
DuPont Performance Polymers specializes in application development, operating globally and using a broad range of high-performance materials and technology to help customers in the global aerospace, appliance, automotive, consumer, electrical, electronic, industrial, sporting goods and other diversified industries deliver high-quality, cost-effective systems and components.
DuPont Performance Polymers is the largest, most globally networked nylon manufacturer exclusively focused on engineering polymers. Operating compounding sites in 13 countries, DuPont is the only nylon 6,6 producer to own and operate world-scale, continuous-polymerization assets in all three regions of the world.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
Captions and High Resolution files for Graphics:
Best in Class Air-Oven Aging - DuPont™ Zytel® PLUS nylon 95G35 core product shows no significant drop in its ability to withstand load — even in 4,000 hour testing — while traditional nylon’s ability to withstand load is cut in half.
Best in Class Hot Motor Oil Aging - DuPont™ Zytel® PLUS nylon 95G35 shows exceptional resistance to impact despite 3000 hours of exposure to hot oil — where performance of traditional nylon dropped to 50%.
Superior Hydrolysis Resistance - DuPont™ Zytel® PLUS nylon 90G30 retains key mechanical properties during exposure to hot water or long-life coolant — where traditional nylon products face a 50% drop in performance.
In many automotive underhood components, DuPont™ Zytel® PLUS nylon meets the demand for long-term resistance to heat, fluids and other chemicals while delivering on the promise of high-flow and ease of processability for which nylon is known.
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