Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands, introduced two bio-based performance materials for the automotive industry, in response to increasing demand for sustainable products.

Presented at the JEC Composites Show 2010 in Paris (France) and the SAE 2010 World Congress in Detroit (United States), the products are Palapreg® ECO P55-01, a bio-based resin for automotive vehicle body parts, including exterior panels, and EcoPaXX™, a bio-based engineering plastic.

Palapreg® ECO is composed of 55% renewable resources, one of the highest bio-based content composite resin materials available on the market. Industry testing has proven that DSM has been able to achieve this high renewable content without sacrificing product performance or production speeds.

EcoPaXX™ is a high-performance polyamide that combines the benefits of a high melting point (approx. 250° C), low moisture absorption and resistance to various chemical substances, including road salt. Approximately 70% of the material is based on building blocks derived from castor oil, a renewable resource.

Christophe Peyre of Mixt Composites Recyclables (MCR), a France-based developer of automotive applications, said: “We have tested Palapreg® ECO on a range of automotive applications and it consistently matched conventional alternatives in terms of performance and function. Through its bio-based content, we believe it offers an excellent opportunity for the car industry to meet its sustainability targets.”

Both Palapreg® ECO P55-01 and EcoPaXX™ are currently involved in final approvals by several customers in the automotive industry, including MCR. Palapreg ® ECO P55-01 has already been used for the bodywork of a kart competing in Formula Zero, the world’s first zero-emission motor racing championship, and has been approved by the Formula One Association (FIA).  

Royal DSM N.V.
www.dsm.com

::Design World::