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Decorative top-coat of NexPrene® 9075A thermoplastic elastomer improves product quality, appearance, and weatherability of automotive door seal.
Hong Yang Sealings of Guiyang, China, is using new materials and a proprietary process to significantly improve both the quality and weatherability of co-extruded automotive door seals with a colored decorative top-coat. For
the top-coat, instead of a traditional thermoset material, Hong Yang has selected a NexPrene 9075A vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer (TPV) from Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc.
Click here for the complete news release in PDF format (149 kb).
Click herefor a high-resolution photograph of the door-seal profile (629 kb).
Click here for a high-resolution photograph of the door-seal top-coat in place in the vehicle interior (222 kb).
Solvay Engineered Polymers announces new series of NexPrene® 9500 SHF vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers with super high-flow performance.
Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc., has introduced a new series of vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers (TPVs) that feature the company’s proprietary cure technology. Designated NexPrene 9500 SHF (super high flow) materials, TPVs in the new series exhibit viscosities that are up to 60% lower than those of conventional thermoplastic elastomers.
Click here for the complete news release in pdf format (227 kb).
Click here for a high-resolution photograph of NexPrene® 9500 SHF glass encapsulation (925 kb).
Click here for a high-resolution photograph of the NexPrene® 9500 SHF property table (674 kb).
Click here for the Nexprene® 9500 SHF property table in pdf format (526 kb).
SEQUEL® 1514 thermoplastic polyolefin material provides scratch resistance for side-rail covers of Toyota Tacoma mid-size pickup truck.
The side rails and tailgate that surround the cargo box of the mid-size Toyota Tacoma pickup truck are each topped with a molded cover that protects the exterior sheetmetal during normal loading and unloading operations. The box-rail covers and tailgate cover are injection molded by Plastikon Industries of Hayward, California. The material selected for these parts is SEQUEL 1514 thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) from Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc.
Click herefor a high-resolution photograph of the two side-rail covers (619 kb).
Click here for a high-resolution photograph of the tailgate cover (158 kb).
Click herefor a high-resolution photograph of the Toyota Tacoma mid-size pickup truck (647 kb).
Innovative fan shroud design from Sur-Flo Plastics & Engineering improves engine operation and simplifies the vehicle assembly process.
The design features a flexible shroud of NexPrene® 1087A thermoplastic vulcanizate from Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc., which is overmolded on a rigid nylon retaining ring. The part is mounted on a vehicle's engine, rather than on the body behind the grille. The location and the flexibility of the shroud allows the shroud to be folded back during assembly, which simplifies the joining of the engine to the body. The arrangement also increases cooling airflow to the engine.
Click herefor a high-resolution photograph of the Sur-Flo Plastics fan shroud (426 kb).
Click here for a high-resolution schematic image of the Sur-Flo Plastics fan shroud (621 kb).
SEQUEL® 1440 HF engineered polyolefin provides stiffness and impact resistance in bumper fascias of redesigned Ford Mustang and new Mustang convertible.
Hard edges. Sharp corners. Tight radii. Deep pockets. On the original Ford Mustang, design cues such as these were executed in sheet metal, and they became the stuff of legend. For the 21st century version of this iconic vehicle — including the 2006 convertible — Mustang designers wanted to evoke the spirit of the 1960s classics as strongly as possible. But they would need to do it with injection-molded front and rear bumper fascias. And these would be molded on presses at Auto Alliance that were limited in capacity to less than 3,000 tons of clamp force.
Click herefor a high-resolution image of the new Mustang Fascia (370 kb).
Novo Foam Products and Solvay Engineered Polymers announce strategic partnership to advance innovative twin-sheet thermoforming process.
Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc., has been chosen as a strategic partner by Novo Foam Products LLC. The company was selected because of its portfolio of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) materials that are designed for use in the thermoforming process. A durable, lightweight multi-use shipping pallet is the first application using a foam core to stiffen two TPO panels.
Click on the thumbnails below for high-resolution images of the unique Novo Foam Air Ride Pallet.
Top Edge Bottom
New SEQUEL® 2380 thermoplastic polyolefin provides cost savings, durability, and low-gloss appearance for instrument panel in GM compact pickups.
The major components of the instrument panel in the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon compact pickup trucks are molded of SEQUEL 2380 thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO). This new material has been developed by Solvay Engineered Polymers specifically for this type of application, and it is approved to the pertinent specifications at each of the North American Big Three automakers.
Click herefor a high-resolution image of the new General Motors Colorado and Canyon Instrument Panel (334 kb).
Solvay Engineered Polymers introduces NexPrene® 9000 series of fully vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer materials.
There are nine materials in the new NexPrene 9000 series of fully vulcanized thermoplastic elatomers. The grades range in hardness from 40 Shore A to 50 Shore D. Each of these materials exhibits a clean, white, natural appearance for ease and economy of coloring. All the materials in the series are non-hygroscopic, so they require no pre-drying for processing either by injection molding or extrusion.
Click herefor a high resolution image of an array of colorful samples of NexPrene® 9000 TPV (507 kb).
Engineered Polymers installs profile extrusion line at Automotive Applications Development Center to investigate thermoplastic weatherseals.
Solvay Engineered Polymers announces the completion of a multi-material profile extrusion line at its Automotive Applications Development Center here in Auburn Hills. The installation is a production-capable extrusion system that will be dedicated to the development of thermoplastic elastomer materials that are appropriate to replace thermoset rubber in weatherseal applications for the automotive industry.
Grade of NexPrene® thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) delivers performance and appearance in clamp pads on unique Stromberg Carlson bicycle rack.
A grade of NexPrene thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) from Solvay Engineered Polymers plays a key role in both the function and the aesthetics of an innovative bicycle rack designed and built by Stromberg Carlson Products, Inc. The All X-cess bike rack is available from the Traverse City, Michigan company in versions that hold either two or four bicycles, with a variety of bumper or trailer-hitch mounting options. As its name implies, the unique All X-cess rack permits access to any individual bike on the rack without disturbing any of the others.
RESPOND™ TPV material eliminates processing and appearance issues in console liners on Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.
When the interiors of Ford Motor Company’s full-size SUVs were refreshed for the 2003 model year, designers intended to use a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) material to achieve resilient, soft-touch console liners and cup-holder inserts. This decision created significant processing issues, which were eliminated with the help of a team of CAE and materials professionals at Solvay Engineered Polymers.
New SEQUEL® 1880 engineered polyolefin provides dimensional stability in storage box covers on Chevrolet Avalanche.
The 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche features two lockable storage compartments, one on either side of its reconfigurable cargo box. The covers for these compartments are molded in new SEQUEL® 1880 engineered polyolefin. This material is the first to incorporate new technology developed by Solvay Engineered Polymers for applications that require exceptional specific stiffness. With a flexural modulus of approximately 300 kpsi, SEQUEL 1880 polyolefin is the stiffest TPO currently approved for use at General
Decorative top-coat of NexPrene® 9075A thermoplastic elastomer improves product quality, appearance, and weatherability of automotive door seal.
