Toyota, Denso, and Dupont awarded for plant-derived resin development
Society of Plastics Engineers recognize eco-friendly resin used in Toyota Camry radiators.
David Greenfield -- Control Engineering, 11/24/2009
Toyota and its partners Denso and DuPont Automotive have been recognized for the plant-derived resin radiator end tank, which is used in some 2009 Toyota Camrys.The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Division awarded the companies with its "Most Innovative Use of Plastics" award in the Environment Category.
"The radiator tank--which has a high percent of renewable material--is one of the first to be used in a mechanical under-the-hood component exposed to a hot, chemically aggressive environment," said Doug Patton, senior vice president of Engineering at Denso International America.
The eco-friendly polymer--DuPont Zytel RS nylon--is produced by a chemical reaction between organic compounds derived from the castor plant and petroleum. Additives, including glass fiber and others are incorporated to produce the resultant eco-friendly resin, which Denso jointly developed with DuPont Automotive. About 40% of the resin is comprised of the plant-based ingredients.
Beyond the radiator tank's environmentally friendly materials, it is said to release less CO2 emissions into the atmosphere during its life cycle than the conventional product. This can partially be attributed to the fact that Zytel RS is extracted from plants, which absorb CO2 through the photosynthesis process. Also, because less petroleum is used to produce the end tank, the new product also helps conserve oil.
"Through collaboration, we were able to develop a new material for use in a higher performance radiator end tank that meets auto manufacturer's needs for sustainable solutions," said Patrick Ferronato, global director, development and marketing, DuPont Automotive Performance Polymers. "The plant-derived resin also meets requirements for exceptional heat resistance, durability and road salt resistance."
Access other Control Engineering content related to sustainable materials use:
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- Edited by David Greenfield, editorial director
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