French automaker Renault's 2007 Twingo and 2008 Kangoo are the company's latest vehicles to employ SABIC Innovative Plastics' lightweight, durable and strong Noryl GTX resin for the fenders and other body panels as an alternative to steel. The French car company selected Noryl GTX 979 resin for its two latest vehicles, resulting in weight savings of 1.5 kg for the Twingo and 1.7 kg for the Kangoo. In addition, the resin allowed Renault to increase part integration for system cost savings and incorporate style elements for competitive differentiation. The high-performance technology has enabled Renault to roughly keep the fender weight down by as much as approximately 50% relative to steel, while delivering better low-speed impact durability than steel.
Apart from than weight reduction, conductive Noryl GTX resins increased freedom and flexibility to design and mold complex parts when used for fenders and body panels. Further, the SABIC Innovative Plastics' resins can be painted or powder-coated simultaneously alongside the body without the need for a primer step. In day-to-day use, fenders molded from Noryl GTX resin typically resist minor dents and damage better than steel fenders. They are also typically resistant to corrosion and may be recycled at the end of the vehicle's life.
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