Borealis and Borouge are using the occasion of the 2015 VDI Mannheim to showcase material solutions for a leading automotive manufacturer and announce the start-up of expanded operations in Itatiba, Brazil. A new Daplen grade developed in cooperation with BMW for the front bumper of the electric sports car BMW i8 is a recent and specific example of how Borealis and Borouge innovations can play a role in facilitating systematic lightweight construction in the automotive industry.Innovative Borealis grades found in BMW i8 front bumper and instrument panel (IP) carrier
Primerless painting systems address the need for greater economy and sustainability in automotive exterior applications by reducing cycle time and system costs. For the production of its revolutionary top-of-range electric sports car BMW i8, BMW required a lightweight bumper material that delivered on several key aspects in processability and manufacturing. Developed in close partnership with BMW for use in the front bumper of the BMW i8, the new grade Daplen EE112AE shows how Borealis and Borouge deliver expertise along the entire product and application development chain in order to facilitate primerless paint systems for exterior plastic applications which fulfil the most demanding design and performance criteria.The new-generation Daplen EE112AE is a 12% mineral-filled elastomer modified polypropylene (PP) compound. It fulfils BMW's extremely stringent paint adhesion quality requirements for primerless paint systems in their in-house manufacturing operation. Commercially launched in the last quarter of 2014, this grade provides easy processability for low production scrap rate as well as reduced density. Most crucially for this electric sports car, the good impact/stiffness balance provided by Daplen EE112AE enables a low part weight.
Another innovative material solution, Fibremod GB215HP, is being used in the BMW i8 IP carrier. A 20% long glass fibre reinforced PP grade, Fibremod GB215HP provides excellent strength, high stiffness and outstanding energy absorption in high speed deformation, thus ideally fulfilling today's stringent crash and impact requirements. Although not a new grade, Fibremod GB215HP helps support BMW's own integral foaming injection moulding process, resulting in low warpage and excellent dimensional stability.
