Fiat approves Borealis and Borouge's high-performance materials for bumper and dashboard innovations

Fiat approves Borealis and Borouge’s high-performance materials for bumper and dashboard innovations

09-Sep-11

The new generation Lancia Ypsilon is the latest high-style vehicle model from Fiat Group to embrace bumper and dashboard material innovations from Borealis and Borouge, to support its drive for high quality across its vehicle ranges. Fiat Group approved Borealis and Borouge’s high-performance polypropylene (PP) Daplen™ EF109AE-9543 for the bumper on its new Lancia Ypsilon model for many compelling reasons. One such reason was the excellent balance between stiffness and impact performance to match the new European crash performance requirements. Furthermore, the good paintability and zero-gap concept achieved through the material’s excellent Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (CLTE) ensures good continuity with the body of the car for enhanced visual appeal. For the dashboard, a combination of very good scratch behaviour with very low gloss and outstanding impact behaviour offered by Borealis and Borouge’s innovative grade Daplen™ EE168AI-9533 made it the material of choice for this application. The companies have remained in close collaboration since 1995. Borealis has assisted Fiat Group’s enhancement of performance and aesthetics of its interior and exterior vehicle parts on models recognised for their safety and cutting-edge designs such as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Fiat 500. “We are very proud of our historical partnership with Fiat and look forward to extending it further with technical and developmental collaboration supporting the Group’s presence in countries such as Russia and China in the future,” comments Gianni Castronuovo, Borealis Business Unit Mobility Senior Application Development Engineer Fiat. In addition to their aesthetic and performance advantages, Borealis and Borouge’s lightweight polyolefin innovations offer vehicle weight savings when used to replace traditional parts materials, contributing to a reduction in fuel consumption. To date, Borealis has developed similar materials in cooperation with Fiat for several platforms commercialized under Fiat's brands including Ducato, Alfa Romeo and Lancia.