Issue #3: December, 2006 Bookmark this page

AutoFocus - The Automotive Sealing eNewsletter from the makers of Viton®
 

Welcome to the December 2006 edition of AutoFocus, the global eNewsletter that delivers the latest news and expert opinion about fuel system, engine and drive train sealing - and a focus on Viton® fluoroelastomer sealing technology from DuPont Performance Elastomers (DPE).

The December issue highlights major industry efforts to reduce global reliance on fossil fuels via new alternate fuel technology, with news of the latest industry partnerships to develop advanced biofuels such as ethanol and biobutanol.

AutoFocus #3 also reviews the latest concepts in overmolding, and development of an innovative overmolded two component fuel sender seal of Viton® and plastic - expected to solve one of the most critical leak path problems in automotive fuel system sealing. And there's more in this issue.

If you would like to comment on any of the articles, have a question, or would like to know more about any of the topics, please contact us.

In this Issue:

 
  Choosing the right elastomer for automotive sealing applications
To ensure that elastomer seals meet automotive lifetime requirements (15 years or 240 000 kms/150 000 miles), fuel system and drive train engineers must match material performance and corresponding cost to operating conditions. And to ensure that the most suitable product is chosen for an automotive sealing application, engineers must either have a working knowledge of elastomer characteristics or have a resource readily available. William M. Stahl from DuPont Performance Elastomers investigates the options available and suggests an easy evaluation process to help you make the right choice.  Read Full Story
 
  Long-term fuel aging tests show advantages of 'APA' fluoroelastomers
Peroxide cured fluoroelastomers have been increasingly used in automotive fuel systems for the past 15 years. Current Euro 5 and California Air Resources Board (CARB) low emission requirements have pushed the low permeation and 12 to15 year lifetime demands on these materials to an all time high. Now DPE's peroxide cured Advanced Polymer Architecture (APA) technology fluoroelastomers (FPM) have arrived with enhanced properties. Long-term aging tests have shown that APA technology polymers exhibit good hot fuel resistance, better compression set resistance at 200°C, slightly better low temperature TR-10 and Tg, and good fuel permeation resistance, compared to their conventional technology counterparts.  Read Full Paper
 
    A unique design for automotive sender seals to comply with PZEV regulations
Fuel sender seals are one of the most critical emissions paths in automotive fuel systems. But an innovative seal development by Poly-Nova Technologies Inc, using DuPont Performance Elastomers (DPE) Viton® fluoroelastomer, is expected to change all that to comply with the latest PZEV (partial zero emission vehicle) evaporative emissions requirements.  Read Full Story
 
  Injection molding of Viton® fluoroelastomer to enhance manufacturing automation, gain efficiencies
A team of engineers from DuPont Performance Elastomers (DPE) has shown how Viton® made with APA technology improves the overmolding process, making manufacturing automation easier, lowering costs and reducing waste. DPE, DuPont, ENGEL and Hamilton Mold & Machine have demonstrated a fully automated molding process to produce a multi-material carrier gasket comprised of Viton® fluoroelastomer over DuPont Zytel® nylon resin. In separate demonstrations, Desma and Rutil showcased new automated production cell concepts - injection molding parts with Viton® GBL-S fluoroelastomer using flashless, wasteless and all automatic cold runner valve gates.  Read Full Story
 
  Joint leadership role in advanced biofuels for DuPont and BP
In June, DuPont and BP announced the creation of a partnership to develop, produce and market a next generation of biofuels to help meet increasing global demand for renewable transportation fuels. Biobutanol will be the first product to market, which is targeted for introduction in 2007 in the United Kingdom as a gasoline bio component.  Read Full Story
 
  Fuel and permeation resistance of fluoroelastomers to ethanol blends
There is growing interest in the use of ethanol as a fuel. E10 - 10% ethanol in fuel - has been used for many years. Now, as new manufacturing technology makes this alcohol more plentiful, and government subsidies (regulate) its price, there is a push to use ethanol in automotive fuel at higher percentages - for example at 85% in E85 flex fuel. But what happens to fluoroelastomers commonly used in fuel systems when exposed to such ethanol blends?
Experiments have been conducted to document the changes in volume swell, tensile properties and permeation rates of several Viton® fluoroelastomers typically used in fuel systems, when exposed to blends of Fuel C and ethanol, including E85 flex fuel. For the results  Read Summary and Full Story
 
  Recent events in Asia-Pacific: DPE opens new China entity, exhibits at Yokohama Auto Show, and presents at Hyundai Kia Research Centre
The opening of a new DuPont Performance Elastomers (DPE) new business entity in China - following the inauguration of the company's state-of-the-art Research and Development Center in Shanghai - underlines DPE's commitment to providing full-service support to customers in the Asia-Pacific region.
This was evidenced by two recent events in Japan and South Korea highlighting DPE's growing presence in the local automotive sector - (1) the company showcased F200 ultra low fuel permeation barrier laminate technology for fuel hoses at the Yokohama Auto Show, Japan, and (2) held its first Product and Technology Fair at the Hyundai Kia Research Center in South Korea.  Read Full Stories
 


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Previous Issues
Issue #2: June 2006
Issue #1: Nov 2005


DuPont and Broin Partner to Advance Development of Ethanol From Cellulosic Biomass
DuPont and Broin announced a partnership in the United States to take the next steps needed to bring cost-effective ethanol derived from corn stover to market.  Read Full Story

 
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