Borealis: Pioneering polypropylene solutions for automotive engineering

Pioneering developments in high performance polypropylenes (PP) under the bonnet and on the vehicle exterior take centre stage on Borealis and Borouge will present at conference “Plastics in Automotive Engineering”. Exhibited will the glass-reinforced PP air intake manifold (AIM) now fitted to all 1.4 and 1.6 litre engines on Golf, Polo, Seat and Skoda models. The AIM is injection moulded in Xmod GB306SAF, a high performance 36 % glass fibre reinforced compound.

According the manufacturer this material represents a paradigm shift in this application area, traditionally dominated by glass reinforced polyamides, as it is specifically tailored for AIMs and other technical under the bonnet components that are exposed to high loads, peak temperatures of up to 140 °C, continuous vibration, hot oil and chemicals. It also contributes to improved production cost-efficiency, thanks to its lower processing temperatures and lower density. The usage of this advanced PP solution significantly reduces part weight (as much as 15 % less than polyamide), says the company. Considering that on average, 1 kg of PP used in a car can provide an estimated 8.3 kg CO₂ savings over its life cycle, this material can make a significant contribution to energy savings and climate protection.

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VW also chose Borealis materials for their Touareg bumper fascias, as the display will show. It is made from Daplen VB4411, an elastomer modified PP (TPO) containing 10 % mineral filler. The material was chosen because VW required a material with very low thermal expansion and a solution that would yield parts with “zero gap” dimensional tolerance.

More Information: www.borealisgroup.com

VDI-Kongress "Plastics in Automotive Engineering", Mannheim, 6.-7.4.2011, Stand 54

Borealis AG, Vienna, Austria

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