New product made of Technyl ® eXten can be used to make fuel pipes, brake lines, clutches and oil lines for light and heavy vehicles.

May, 07, 2012 - - In order to expand the range of sustainable products on offer for the automotive and transportation sectors, Rhodia, a member of the Solvay Group, and DYTECH, an auto parts company, have developed an innovative product in Brazil from engineering plastic Technyl® eXten – a polyamide 6.10 derived in part from castor oil, a renewable source.

The semi-finished product, which reduces the environmental impact of both the production processes and the final application, can be used to make fuel pipes, brake lines, clutches and oil lines for light and heavy vehicles. The new product has already been approved by several clients of the two companies, which have replaced their PA12 applications with the new plastic.

"Compared with other high-performance polyamide engineering plastics, the new Technyl® eXten application offers customers a range of technical and cost-benefit advantages, in addition to the environmental gains" said Marcos Curti, director of Rhodia Engineering Plastics and Polymers for the Americas.

Technyl® eXten is a partially bio-sourced polyamide. As such, measurements revealed that 62,5% of its carbon is biogenic. This bio-sourcing allows to reduce the carbon footprint and to preserve non-renewable resources as compared to other polyamides, totally petro-sourced . “ Offering our bio-sourced material on the Brazilian market for high-volume segments such as pipes for light and heavy vehicles will decrease the emission of greenhouse gases by thousands tons of CO2 every year”, adds Curti

Rhodia’s engineering plastics and polyamides are used primarily in the production of parts for the automotive and transport, electronics and construction, and industrial consumer goods segments. The company, one of the world's leaders in this sector, has production facilities and laboratories to develop applications on four continents. In Brazil, the plant and laboratory are in São Bernardo Campo (São Paulo state).

Giorgio Fabbroni, vice president of DYTECH in Brazil, says the development of this new engineering plastic application from renewable sources will increase the range of solutions in line with the needs of the automotive industry for sustainable products. The heavy vehicle industry in Brazil, he notes, is going through a particularly special phase, with the entry into force of the Vehicle Air Pollution Control Program (PROCONVE 7).

"Trucks have increasing load demands being made on them and manufacturers need to reduce vehicle weight without losing efficiency and to adapt to the environmental legislation, reducing emissions. We are working with Rhodia to provide clients with solutions such as Technyl® eXten, which combines all the aspects of sustainability," says Fabbroni.

About Rhodia, a member of the Solvay Group

Rhodia, member of the Solvay group, is a specialty chemical company structured around 11 Global Business Units. Rhodia is the partner of major players in the automotive, electronics, flavors and fragrances, health, personal and home care markets, consumer goods and industrial markets. Rhodia employs around 14 250 people worldwide and generated sales of €6.17 billion in 2011.

About Dytech - Dynamic Fluid Technologies

With a turnover of € 255 million and around 3,300 employees in nine countries, DYTECH develops and manufactures a wide range of systems, subsystems and components for engines and application platforms.

Source: Rhodia