LyondellBasell Industries AF SCA has introduced a family of high density polyethylenes with improved resistance to biodiesel fuels.New Lupolen materials are suited to blow molding and injection molding of automotive fuel tanks. Greater chemical resistance allows them to contain higher levels of biodiesel in fuels, the Rotterdam, Netherlands, firm claims.
After 1,500 hours of contact with 100 percent biodiesel fuel, the resins changed their intrinsic viscosity by 1.7 percent, a nearly thirtyfold improvement over standard HDPE grades, the company said. The products also retain physical and chemical properties at the same level as conventional Lupolen resins. Melt viscosity, for example, is unchanged so existing molds and machinery shouldn't require modifications. LyondellBasell said it developed new test methods for biodiesel to realistically simulate resin performance.
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