Materials Bioplastic
Materials Bioplastic Polyamide 11 for automotive www.rilsan.com www.jora.jp/eng fuel line applications Fuel line system “Biomass based” label from JORA Global warming and other environmental concerns drive advances in the automotive industry to minimize the environmental impact of today’s cars. Governmental regulations such as Californian Legislation or EURO 4 set restrictive limits for fuel and tailpipe emissions and are tightening towards zero emission levels. Using renewable source materials and fuel, such as biodiesel and bioethanol, significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels. Alternative engine technology, such as hybrid engines, is a further step towards emission-free vehicles. The use of renewable source fuels such as biodiesel and flexfuel combined with the use of Arkema’s biobased Rilsan ® PA11 can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. High performance Polyamide Arkema’s high performance products such as petroleum based Rilsan polyamide 12 and bio-based PA11, have been used for over 30 years as a rubber and metal substitute for low-permeation tubing applications in the transportation industry. Fuel lines and other demanding safety applications have imposed severe requirements on construction materials. These must withstand attack from chemicals, heat or fuel, as well any strong temperature variations for the lifetime of the vehicle. High performance polyamides deliver these citical properties. End-users benefit from corrosion resistance, easier assembly, and better design possibilities, all at a reduced cost. Rilsan polyamide 11 provides an outstanding level of safety, durability and versatility for highly demanding applications, and is superior to petroleum based polyamide 12 in many applications. Polyamide 11 made from vegetable oil In contrast to other high performance polyamides such as polyamide 12, Rilsan bioplastic polyamide 11 is derived from a renewable source: castor oil. In 2006, Rilsan polyamide 11 received the „Biomass Based“ label from Japan Organics Recycling Association (JORA). Eco-profile assessment provides valuable insight into the way PA11 performs environmentally compared to conventional performance plastics. Due to the fact that the starting feedstock is biomass, the consumption of fossil fuel is one of the lowest of 24 bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/07] Vol. 2
Materials performance polymers. Greenhouse gas emissions for PA11 production are much lower than for all other performance polymers. The explanation for this feature is that PA11 production starts with a significant atmospheric CO 2 consumption (castor seed cultivation), leading to a reduction of CO 2 emission of up to –40%. Bioplastic Rilsan PA11 for Biodiesel fuel lines Arkema’s Rilsan PA11 has been approved by several automotive manufacturers for biodiesel fuel lines in Europe and Brazil. Rilsan PA11 features excellent ageing resistance to biodiesel at high temperature, opening the way to the use of biodiesel in automotive fuel lines. Today’s increasing use of biofuels has led Arkema to develop a new Rilsan grade, BESN Noir P210TL, specifically for designed biodiesel fuels. Biofuels are much more aggressive than traditional crude oil based fuels. “Rilsan BESN Noir P210TL offers superior performance compared to polyamide 12, with outstanding chemical and mechanical ageing resistance at high temperature in particular,” says Martin Baumert, Market Manager Automotive Rilsan, Orgalloy, Technical Polymers Division at Arkema. The use of renewable source fuels such as biodiesel and flexfuel combined with the use of biobased Rilsan PA11 can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Arkema‘s polyamide grades are well known for fuel lines in diesel cars. Rilsan has been the reference material for diesel fuel lines thanks to its resistance to high temperatures in under-hood environments for several years. Rilsan PA offers significant cost savings over traditional rubber or metal assemblies. In addition, biobased Rilsan PA11 can be paired with conductive Rilsan PA11 in a multilayer structure, such as Arkema’s Rilperm 2101 multilayer technology, to comply with Standard SAE J1645 (Rilperm ® 2101). Rilsan product range for quick connectors Thermoplastic fuel lines are connected through quick connectors. Rilsan PA11 and PA12 resins meet the demanding requirements for connectors used in automotive fuel contact applications. Both standard and conductive grades are available. Conclusion Arkema’s Rilsan polyamides and Rilperm fuel line technology allow customers to meet the most stringent standards and specification requirements in terms of fuel permeability, mechanical properties, and ageing resistance in increasingly demanding engine environments. The use of renewable source fuels such as biodiesel and flexfuel combined with the use of biobased Rilsan PA11 can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Quick connectors Castor Plant All photos: Arkema bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/07] Vol. 2 25
