With escalating prices, Concerns about fuel consumption are rising and manufacturers are looking for new ways to reduce vehicle weight to improve fuel efficiency. GE's Cycoloy CE1820 polycarbonate /acrylonitryl-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) resin has been tested to prove that its usage reduces the weight of its two new recreational vehicles - the 2006 Winnebago View and the 2006 Itasca Navion, while enhancing their stylishness and aerodynamic appearance.
Usage of this new grade is considered to have reduced the weight of multiple components in the vehicles. This material was the final choice after much research and consideration to other materials such as aluminum, fiberglass, and several resins for multiple exterior design parts. GE's Cycoloy resin meets all the criterias required for the vehicles:
· High flexural modulus for rigidity, high impact resistance to withstand road debris
· A low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) to maintain space between panels
· Weatherability in harsh outdoor conditions.
· Flexibility to accommodate complex designs.
· Superior aesthetics to enhance the new RV models.
When compared with other materials it was found that:
ü It's flexural modulus is evaluated to be approximately 40% more than that of standard ABS resin and permits the use of thinner gauges to reduce weight substantially by upto 17% while maintaining equal rigidity, helping to raise fuel efficiency.
It is about 35% lighter than fiberglass providing greater impact resistance.
ü The resin provides exceptional design flexibility to accommodate many different shapes and sizes of the RV components.
ü Contrary to typical filled material systems that may deliver a substandard appearance due to filler read-through after thermoforming, Cycoloy resin provides excellent aesthetics, beside superior impact strength, heat resistance and low CTE.
18-Aug-05 
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