"EcoPaXX is 70% bio-based, but its "green" credentials come at no cost to performance," says DSM’s Tintel. "It combines superb mechanical properties with excellent chemical resistance in various media. It also has the highest melting point of any bio-based aliphatic polyamide, making it very suitable for applications needing high heat resistance, such as engine covers for turbo engines and crank shaft covers. The fact that it can be used in so-called beauty covers in cars made by a company like Mercedes-Benz, which puts so much emphasis on the perfect marriage of form and function, speaks volumes for the surface finish it makes possible."
BBP Kunststoffwerk Marbach Baier GmbH is the supplier for the engine cover. BBP build the production tooling including optimization and process fine tuning which is needed to reach the requested dimensional and surface requirements of Mercedes-Benz.
Since the launch of EcoPaXX, DSM has developed a full portfolio of polyamide 410 grades tuned to the needs of the automotive and other specialty industries. "It is really exciting to develop applications with a high-performance green material such as EcoPaXX, in such close cooperation with a major customer like Mercedes-Benz," says Tintel "This is just the beginning and the real up-swing in use of bio-based products is soon to come."
Mercedes-Benz concludes in its Life Cycle Environmental Certificate:
"The Mercedes-Benz A-Class not only meets the highest standards in terms of safety, comfort, agility and design, but also satisfies all current requirements with regard to environmental compatibility. This environmental certificate documents the major progress which has been achieved in comparison to the preceding model of the A-Class.
Moreover, a higher proportion of high quality secondary raw materials and components made from renewable raw materials is used. In all, the 2012 model year A-Class has a significantly improved Life Cycle Assessment compared to its predecessor model."
