In response to increasing demand for eco-friendly polymers, DuPont Engineering Polymers announced the full commercialization of several families of high-performance renewably sourced engineering polymers. The newly commercialized polymers include DuPont™ Hytrel® RS thermoplastic elastomers, DuPont™ Sorona® EP thermoplastic resins and DuPont™ Zytel® RS long chain nylons which have already been incorporated in automotive and sporting goods applications. As per the company, the strategy of DuPont Engineering Polymers is to offer polymers that are at least 20% renewably sourced and have equal or better performance than the entirely petrochemically-based materials.
Hytrel® RS elastomers contain between 20 and 60% renewably sourced ingredients by weight and are made using renewably sourced polyols derived from plant-based raw materials and are easily processed by conventional thermoplastic methods. Properties include excellent flex fatigue and flexibility at low temperatures and high impact resistance. Earlier this year, Salomon, a leading supplier of sporting goods, announced it has adopted Hytrel® RS for the collar of the company's new "Ghost" freerider alpine ski-boot. A key reason for the adoption, according to Salomon, was the availability of a renewably sourced alternative meeting the demanding performance requirements for winter sports equipment.
DuPont's new renewably sourced long-chain nylons include Zytel® PA 1010, which is 100% renewably sourced, and Zytel® PA 610, which is more than 60% by weight renewably sourced. Also this year, DuPont™ Zytel® 610 nylon resin debuted on DENSO Corporation's new automotive radiator end tank, marking the first use of DuPont renewably sourced plastic in mechanical components exposed to the hot chemically aggressive underhood environment.
Sorona® EP resins are available in glass-reinforced and unreinforced grades and on average contain 35% renewable content by weight. Sorona® EP is an engineering polyester resin and performs and processes similarly to PBT in molded automotive parts, electrical components and industrial or consumer goods.
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