INFORMATION & IDEAS
General Motors’ use of DuPont™ Zytel® PLUS nylon for its Ecotec 2.0-liter turbo powering Cadillac CTS vehicles captured the ‘Most Innovative Use of Plastics” Award in the Materials category from the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Division. The award-winning engine-appearance and acoustic cover is molded by Camoplast Polymer Solutions, Richmond, Quebec, Canada.
As alternative drive vehicles evolve, the challenges only multiply. DuPont is working with automotive manufacturers to help them improve efficiency and range in today’s hybrid and electric vehicles, and further the development of the fuel-cell powered vehicles of tomorrow.
DuPont is working with our auto industry collaborators to help them develop the next generation of sustainable mobility solutions. Together, we’re helping reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions to help manage the environmental impact associated with the world’s increasing demand for automotive mobility.
DuPont is working with automakers to develop materials that help optimize engine efficiency. Focus areas include heat and friction management, exhaust gas recirculation, and re-imagining turbocharger technology or injection systems for mainstream vehicle production.
Brief summary of the US EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) "Level's of Protection (LOP)" as applicable to those individuals involved in handling hazardous materials. LOP's are based on the type of respiratory protection required to ensure the safety of the user under the specified conditions of use.
Many of today’s vehicle system environments are like a pressure cooker of aggressive chemicals. Very few materials have the right combination of characteristics to withstand that kind of severe treatment. DuPont is at the forefront of the development of the latest generation of high performance materials.
DuPont high-performance materials for turbochargers and emissions systems can withstand the high heat and corrosive fluids in downsized engines, and reduce friction and improve wear for components.
Vehicle weight reduction is a major challenge. While plastics are inherently lighter than metals, lightweighting requires more than direct material substitution. DuPont predictive engineering and design teams work with customers, using insight and high-performance DuPont materials to redesign for lower weight, often integrating functions to cut costs at the same time.
Engine downsizing, lightweighting, turbocharging, direct injection, and exhaust gas recirculation are all responses to the drive for greater fuel economy, higher engine efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. But these advances come at a price. They generate more heat, and involve more aggressive gases, fluids, and acidic gas/air mixtures, often under high pressure.