SABIC VALOX Resin Helps Crown General Motors Winner of SPE Automotive Innovation Award in Performan

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov. 28, 2012 - GM’s winning application is the carbon composite air extractor located on the hood of the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 sports car. This unique carbon fiber prepreg composite part includes a vent screen as well as a water deflector molded from SABIC’s VALOX™ resin, which delivered the high mechanical and thermal performance needed in  demanding under-hood environments The successful use of VALOX resin not only allowed GM to bring the carbon fiber prepreg design to life but is also further evidence of SABIC’s proven track record and ongoing commitment to enable meaningful, high-end automotive solutions for its customers and the industry.

“We feel very strongly about the impact we can deliver for our customers so it is an honor to have played a supporting role in helping GM garner this distinguished industry recognition,” said V. Umamaheswaran (UV), director of marketing, Automotive, Innovative Plastics. “Automakers today have higher demands, especially in the ever-evolving under-hood space. This award-winning application speaks to our ability to respond with the high-performance and high-temperature thermoplastic solutions that the industry needs. We look forward to continued collaboration with our customers to help them meet the increasingly complex application challenges that lie ahead.”

SABIC’s role in the overall application program included material selection assistance, predictive engineering work, as well as tool build design and validation support.

VALOX Resin Deflector Takes the Heat, Looks Good

The Camaro ZL1 air extractor is engineered from carbon-fiber composites to achieve the highest stiffness and strength achievable with lowest mass. The part pulls air through the lower grille and out through the hood, cooling the engine, increasing efficiency and reducing lift in the process.

The air extractor makes extensive use of adhesive bonding to join two additional components to the one-piece design, a polyamide vent screen and the water deflector molded from VALOX resin from SABIC. These add-on components allow GM to achieve the desired styling, which is not possible with the one-piece carbon fiber solution because of design limitations. The adhesive bonding also isolates the carbon composite panel from the rest of the aluminum hood, preventing galvanic corrosion.

VALOX resin, a thermoplastic polyester material, delivers the high heat performance required to ensure the long-term durability of the air extractor’s water deflector. This component, designed to deflect water from entering the engine compartment, must be able to withstand high temperatures coming from the engine. This is particularly critical given the deflector’s location on the under-side of the hood and close proximity to the engine. The VALOX resin grade selected for this application meets the requirement, delivering up to 420 F in heat resistance, while also offering an excellent balance of chemical resistance, dimensional stability and impact performance.

Another key benefit of VALOX resin for this application is the material’s high quality feel and surface appearance, lending the deflector part a premium look and aesthetic attractiveness that consumers demand in a high-performance sports car. The part is also molded-in color, offering improved aesthetics while reducing costs and emissions associated with the painting process.

The VALOX resin family is based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers.

Since 2009, automotive plastic innovations with SABIC materials and backing have been part of 9 SPE Automotive Innovation Award category winners. An additional 11 applications with SABIC materials have been honored as finalists over this same time period.

For additional information on SABIC’s resins for automotive applications, please go to www.sabic-ip.com. For technical product inquiries, please contact us at www.sabic-ip.com/prtechinquiry.