Envalior made its NPE 2024 debut in Orlando, Florida, May 6 - 10, 2024. We revealed innovative applications at our booth, including automotive applications, such as a hydrogen fuel tank liner that exceeds widely used thermal stability safety standards and a lightweight high-voltage battery housing that eliminates the need for heavy structural elements. We also showcased sustainable clothing and athletic shoes, medical supplies, building and construction materials, food packaging solutions, and consumer goods.
Below are five key takeaways from NPE:
Hydrogen and electric vehicle solutions: High-voltage battery enclosures made of Tepex® Dynalite and Durethan® were showcased. To focus on safety and performance of EVs, engineers need to use a material that enhances thermal stability of batteries, prevents thermal runaway, and mitigates the risk of fire or explosion. We tested a new composite under the Tepex® Dynalite brand, which is ideal for components inside an EV battery. The composite, with very low-test specimen thicknesses, passed the standard thermal runaway tests for EV battery housings. Durethan® (B24CMH2.0) is a strong, high-tech thermoplastic optimal for battery enclosures.
Hydrogen tank liners engineered with Akulon® Fuel Lock and Durethan® were also showcased. A barrier to increasing the adoption of hydrogen vehicles is the weight and cost of their pressurized fuel tanks – which are typically made of steel or aluminum and limit a vehicle’s range and load capacity. Tank liners made with Akulon® Fuel Lock and Durethan® (BC550Z DUSXBL) provide an excellent barrier with very low gas permeation. Manufacturers can replace metal hydrogen tank materials with an engineered thermoplastic that helps them simplify designs, reduce part weight and lower production costs.
Green medical solutions: Showcased at our booth were medical gowns and catheters. Microporous films – one of the most used medical gown material solutions – don’t provide complete protection against exposure to pathogens. However, Arnitel® VT forms a monolithic membrane proven to be 100% effective against fluid permeation while providing excellent tear resistance and meets AAMI PB70 Level 4 standards when manufactured into medical gowns. The latest Arnitel® VT materials enable thinner membranes, which further improves breathability and reduces material costs without jeopardizing barrier performance. In addition to being 100% recyclable, Arnitel® VT’s polyester-based structure also supports greener gown manufacturing processes and produces no toxic gasses when incinerated.
The catheters showcased at our booth were made with our Arnitel® Care, which is specially engineered for manufacturing soft, durable medical devices that excel in high moisture and high-temperature conditions. The material combines high flexibility with the strength of rubber, due to its unique hard polyester and soft amorphous link structure.
Building and construction solutions: On display at our booth was a water meter made of materials that demonstrate best-in-class hydrolysis resistance, moisture uptake, weld line strength and dimensional stability. Material solutions for water meters include: EcoPaXX® (a bio-based, sustainable alternative), Durethan® (ideal for applications requiring high strength, wear resistance, thermal stability and good electrical insulating properties), and ForTii® and Xytron™ (optimized for hot water applications and offering superior weld line strength after aging in 95°C to 110°C water compared to PPA and PPS competitors).
Also on display was a faucet engineered with our material. Envalior offers a robust portfolio of proven material solutions for faucets including EcoPaXX® bio-based PA410, ForTii® PPA, and Xytron™ PPS. Materials are compliant for warm/hot water contact and sustainable bio-based solutions available, offering superior performance in mechanics and finish.
High-efficiency sports shoes: We featured sports shoes made of the specialty product Arnitel®, which optimizes performance and durability of midsoles. Arnitel® is a thermoplastic copolyester material. We have a unique product portfolio for various foaming technologies, which offer the possibility to achieve best in class rebounds and comfort in combination with longer life vs PEBA. Furthermore, we offer low carbon footprint solutions to bring down the environmental footprint of shoes. Numerous midsoles made with Arnitel® are in production right now and will hit the market in 2024 and 2025.
Sustainable solutions: We now have a portfolio of around 150 bio-based and/or recycled-based grades with best-in-class materials, such as Durethan® ECO (PA6/PA66 with post-industrial recycled glass fibers), Pocan® ECO (PBT with post-industrial recycled glass fibers), and Pocan® ECO T (PBT/PET Blend with post-industrial recycled glass fibers and additionally post-consumer recycled PET). Or take our bio-based Stanyl®, a bio-based high-temperature polyamide which halves the footprint by 50%.
We are also known for Akulon® RePurposed. It is made from abandoned recycled fishing nets and reduces carbon footprint even up to 82%. It is not only used in Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series and Schneider Electric’s Merten Ocean plastics range, but also was the world’s first ocean plastic used by Ford in the Ford Bronco. Together with Ford, we received the SPE award for this innovation.
Global Manager of Messaging and Content Development
Candace Roulo is Global Manager of Messaging and Content Development for Envalior. Based in Troy, Michigan, she specializes in writing blogs and articles about advanced materials solutions. Prior to joining Envalior, Candace served in editorial roles at SME and Penton Media. Candace earned her bachelor’s degree in communication, specializing in public relations, at Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences.
15 May 2024
