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News<br />

Obama Administration to support<br />

biobased materials<br />

On October 27, US-President Barack Obama announced biobased materials as one of three emerging technologies for US<br />

competitiveness. One of the executive actions will include investing over $ 300 million in emerging manufacturing technologies,<br />

specifically composites and bio-based materials, which will be equally matched by the private sector.<br />

The White House said in a statement the actions would build on the final report of Obama‘s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership<br />

that recommends measures to spur innovation, secure a skilled workforce and improve the business climate.<br />

“The executive actions announced today align with the report’s recommendations by making investments in emerging, crosscutting<br />

manufacturing technologies, training our workforce with the skills for middle-class jobs in manufacturing, and equipping<br />

small manufacturers to adopt cutting-edge technologies,” the administration noted in a statement. MT<br />

www.whitehouse.gov<br />

SPE Automotive Innovation Award for PA4<br />

A 70 % biobased PA 410 (EcoPaXX by DSM) lightweight multi-functional crankshaft cover came top in the Powertrain category<br />

at the Society of Plastics Engineers Automotive Division Innovation Awards Competition and Gala in Detroit on November 12.<br />

The crankshaft cover is produced by German company KACO for the latest generation of MDB-4 TDI diesel engines developed<br />

by the Volkswagen Group.<br />

The SPE recognized the numerous environmental and economic advantages of the new part and the technologies used to<br />

make it. The EcoPaXX crankshaft cover weighs around 40% less than a crankshaft cover with similar geometry made in aluminum,<br />

and so represents an important step in improving fuel efficiency in cars. Because the finished cover weighs so much<br />

less, vehicles run more efficiently, saving fuel and reducing carbon dioxide emissions throughout their lifetime.<br />

Kaco produces the crankshaft covers in an integrated fully automated process that involves insert molding a 50 % glass<br />

fiber reinforced grades of EcoPaXX polyamide 410 over a plasma-activated dynamic PTFE seal, and then co-molding this with<br />

a liquid silicone rubber static seal. Kaco itself developed and patented the plasma process, which replaces a wet activation<br />

process involving solvents.<br />

“The partners in this project have taken a holistic approach to sustainability,” says Andreas Genesius, head of project management<br />

at Kaco. “In the application itself, the dynamic PTFE seals reduce friction to a minimum; the manufacturing process<br />

is completely waste-free; and the part makes substantial use of sustainable materials.” EcoPaXX is derived 70 % from renewable<br />

resources, and is certified 100 % carbon neutral from cradle to gate.<br />

In addition to these environmental advantages, there is a significant cost advantage in using EcoPaXX instead of aluminum.<br />

The total system cost can be up to 25 % less than that for a similar die-cast aluminum crankshaft cover design. This was the<br />

first time that EcoPaXX has been used in a powertrain component.<br />

The material had to meet a series of very demanding<br />

specifications, including very low water absorption for<br />

dimensional stability; high resistance to stress over a<br />

wide range of temperatures (operating temperatures<br />

range from -40 °C to +150 °C, with excursions up to<br />

170 °C); resistance to engine oils and diesel fuel; and<br />

the ability to bond, not only to the LSR and PTFE seals,<br />

but also, during engine assembly, to the cast iron engine<br />

block and to a second silicone seal on the oil sump.<br />

KL<br />

www.dsm.com<br />

bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/14] Vol. 9 7

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