A few polymer-related innovations are among the finalists for the 28th annual Automotive News PACE Awards.
DuPont is a finalist for a high damping nylon 6/6 that helps to minimize audible noise from electric vehicle propulsion systems while still maintaining high stiffness.
The polymer represents an improvement over conventional glass-reinforced nylons with a double-digit percentage weight reduction compared with aluminum. The first customer for the material is General Motors.
Martinrea International is a finalist for its brake lines with GrapheneGuard, which provide weight savings and abrasion protection. According to the entry, the material eliminates the need for extra protective layers on standard nylon-coated brake lines.
When used in place of traditional nylon and coextruded polypropylene layers, GrapheneGuard can provide weight savings of as much as 25 percent while also demonstrating superior abrasion protection, improved strength and better chemical resistance. The first customer is Ford Motor Co.
Winners of the PACE awards, which honor innovations by automotive suppliers that have been commercialized, will be announced Sept. 19 in Detroit.