Joint development work between Takata-Petri of Aschaffenburg, Germany, and DuPont has resulted in the launch of a new grade of DuPont\u2122 Hytrel\u00ae RS, the industry\u2019s first renewably-sourced thermoplastic elastomer for use in airbag systems. Replicating the technical properties of the standard grade of Hytrel\u00ae used for such applications, including consistent physical properties over a wide range of temperatures, the material contains a minimum of 35 percent renewable content by weight derived from non-food biomass, thereby addressing auto manufacturers\u2019 needs for sustainable solutions.<\/b><\/p>\n
For over 15 years, DuPont has supplied Takata-Petri, a leading manufacturer of innovative occupant safety systems, with petroleum-based Hytrel\u00ae DYM polymers for use in the driver and passenger airbag covers of various OEMs. As the partnership between the two companies has strengthened, so has their determination to provide best-in-class airbag systems based on high-value and environmentally sustainable material solutions. It was as a reflection of this initiative that the two companies set out to develop a new grade of renewably-sourced Hytrel\u00ae with comparable performance to Hytrel\u00ae DYM in terms of low temperature ductility combined with high stiffness and good long term aging performance, as well as ease of processing and good paintability.<\/p>\n
The newly-developed grade of Hytrel\u00ae RS for airbag systems constitutes one of the latest technological advances in the area of renewably-sourced, high performance polymers. It is based on a thermoplastic ether-ester elastomer (TPC-ET) with hard segments of polybutylene terephthalate and soft segments that contain a polyether derived from non-food biomass. In its finished, compounded form, as used in airbag systems, its renewably-sourced content is at least 35 percent by weight. The development team at DuPont could demonstrate, based on an internal cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), that the Hytrel\u00ae RS grade is superior in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as its use of renewable energy, when compared to a petroleum-based TPC-ET.<\/p>\n
Following confirmation from the project team at Takata-Petri that the airbag covers molded from Hytrel\u00ae RS fully complied with all of the company\u2019s technical requirements with regard to paint adhesion, long-term aging performance as well as low temperature ductility, and that the prototypes showed very similar behavior during use in the airbag system, the material was released for use in serial production at Takata-Petri.<\/p>\n
“With the automotive industry seeking a greater number of sustainable products to help reduce its impact on the environment, so-called green products are high on the manufacturers\u2019 agenda,\u201d comments Takata-Petri CEO, Dr. Heinrich Binder. “Accordingly, Takata-Petri concentrates on developing sustainable solutions through a long-term commitment to technology and innovation with its partners such as DuPont. The latest result of this collaboration is a new airbag cover, made from Hytrel\u00ae RS, that creates a much smaller environmental footprint than its petroleum-based predecessor with no compromise in safety performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
DuPont Performance Polymers has introduced a number of renewably-sourced products that are made, in whole or in part, from renewable agricultural feedstocks such as corn, castor beans and non-food biomass, rather than petroleum to help industry reduce dependence on depleteable petroleum-based products. Among the nine high-performance product families are: DuPont\u2122 Sorona\u00ae polymer, DuPont\u2122 Sorona\u00ae EP thermoplastic polymer, DuPont\u2122 Hytrel\u00ae RS thermoplastic elastomer and DuPont\u2122 Zytel\u00ae long chain polyamides. These products create a much smaller environmental footprint than the entirely petrochemically-based materials they replace with no compromise in performance.<\/p>\n
DuPont Automotive offers more than 100 products to the global automotive industry and through its global application development network is committed to delivering cost-effective solutions to help reduce vehicle weight for better fuel economy and CO2<\/sub> emission reductions, to integrate part functionality to simplify assembly and eliminate cost; and help bring invention to market fast, better and more cost-effectively.<\/p>\n The DuPont Performance Polymers business manufactures and sells Crastin\u00ae PBT and Rynite\u00ae PET thermoplastic polyester resins, Delrin\u00ae acetal resins, Hytrel\u00ae thermoplastic polyester elastomers, DuPont\u2122 ETPV engineering thermoplastic vulcanizates, Minlon\u00ae mineral reinforced nylon resins, Neoprene polychloroprene, Tynex\u00ae filaments, Vespel\u00ae parts and shapes, Kalrez\u00ae perfluoroelastomer parts, Vamac\u00ae ethylene acrylic elastomers (AEM), Viton\u00ae fluoroelastomers, Viton\u00ae FreeFlow\u2122 processing aids, Zytel\u00ae nylon resins and Zytel\u00ae HTN high-performance polyamides. These products serve global markets in the aerospace, appliance, automotive, consumer, electrical, electronic, healthcare, industrial, sporting goods and many other diversified industries.<\/p>\n 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 approximately 80 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.<\/p>\n Note to the editor:<\/i><\/b>
This press release is based on information provided by:
TAKATA-PETRI AG
Bahnweg 1
63743 Aschaffenburg, Germany<\/p>\n