Friedrichshafen, Germany — DuPont Co. unveiled new grades of nylon 6/12 and thermoplastic elastomer at Fakuma 2015 in Friedrichshafen.
Both new grades of Zytel-brand nylon and Hytrel-brand TPE are intended for use in automotive air ducts. The materials meet temperature and acid resistance requirements and extend air duct durability, officials with Wilmington, Del.-based DuPont said.
The need for the new materials “is driven by parts consolidation in engines,” performance polymers Europe, Middle East and Africa director Thomas Oury said Oct. 14. “It's been very intense in the last 10 to 15 years.”
DuPont also continues to have “a strong commitment to being the supplier with the broadest and fastest-expanding portion of bio-based materials.” The firm's lineup includes renewably sourced grades of Zytel, Hytrel and Sorona-brand bio-PET.
“We're not greening existing products,” Oury said. “We're trying to do things we couldn't do before. We want to pioneer in that space.”
On the capacity front, DuPont earlier this year increased capacity for high-temperature nylon by 10 percent at its plant in Richmond, Va., and boosted nylon 6/6 capacity by 20 percent at its plant in Uentrop, Germany.
The firm also is marking the 80th anniversary of the development of nylon, which was discovered by DuPont researcher Wallace Carrothers.
In 2015, Oury said plastics still hold great potential. “There's no better time than now in high-performance plastics,” he said. “We're growing at double the GDP rate of world economies.”
