Viton® News 1 - Article 17

Viton® Made With APA and Viton® FreeFlow™ Spearhead DuPont Dow's Fluoroelastomer Advances at K 2004

To purchase Viton® o-rings and seals, call certified dealer Problem Solving Products at (303) 758-2728.

News Release from Dupont Dow Elastomers

10/15/2004

Special grades of DuPont Dow Viton® fluoroelastomers made with APA help automotive fuel system OEMs meet very low fuel permeation requirements in Europe and the USA, in underhood components such as turbo hoses combining temperature resistance up to 250°C with superior adhesion to silicone without primer.

At K2004, DuPont Dow Elastomers offered a solution to manufacturers of blown film, extruded tubing and wire jacketing looking for increases in productivity - Viton® FreeFlow™ Z100 and Z200 fluoroelastomer self-cleaning process aids, claiming PPA performance that is "twice as fast with half as much" as conventional PPAs. The company also underlined strong growth in specialty fluoroelastomers with a focus on new grades of Viton® made with Advanced Polymer Architecture (APA) meeting ever more stringent automotive requirements for higher temperatures and lower emissions in fuel system and engine compartment sealing.

"Demand for specialty fluoroelastomers is currently very strong, driven mainly by automotive industry needs for upgraded fuel system sealing materials. This is generating close to double digit growth for Viton® made with APA, causing a faster than expected customer transition to the Viton® "S" grades made with APA technology. We are also seeing similar growth for Viton® FreeFlow™ Z100 and Z200 fluoroelastomer process aids. Both of these "Z" technology products are now fully commercial and FDA-compliant," said Patrick Lederer, global marketing manager - Viton®, DuPont Dow Elastomers.

Viton® FreeFlow™ "Z" was the first new process aid technology to be introduced to the plastics industry since the early 1990s. The film additives are highly effective at lower concentrations in the masterbatch, eliminate melt fracture faster, improve transition time and help processors increase yields. For film converters, Viton® FreeFlow™ Z100 and Z200 fluoroelastomer process aids reduce die build-up on extruded goods and facilitate the production of smooth, clear films with a high gloss finish.

DuPont Dow also featured extensions to its range of Viton® fluoroelastomers made with APA, offering improved processability and enhanced part performance not previously available in specialty fluoroelastomers. The company has recently developed special grades to help automotive fuel system OEMs meet Euro 4 and Euro 5 regulations for very low fuel permeation in Europe, as well as LEV II and PZEV in the USA.

Increasing engine compartment temperatures and more aggressive fuels and oils create operating conditions beyond the capabilities of conventional 160°C temperature-ceiling elastomers. To demonstrate the enhanced performance of the latest specialty fluoroelastomers, DuPont Dow presented a number of developmental and commercial components based on Viton®.

These included turbo hoses combining temperature resistance up to 250°C with superior adhesion to silicone without primer; direct fuel injection system seals combining resistance to very low (-40°C) temperatures and oxygenated fuels, and engine vapour recirculation tubes that withstand very hot recirculated air, fuel and oil mixtures.

DuPont Dow Elastomers, a global supplier of specialty elastomers with headquarters in Wilmington, Del., is a joint venture between the DuPont Company and The Dow Chemical Company, with more than $1 billion in sales. The company is a leading producer of chloroelastomers, ethylene elastomers and fluorinated elastomers, serving the automotive, chemical, construction, general rubber, plastics and wire and cable industries.

To purchase Viton® o-rings and seals, call certified dealer Problem Solving Products at (303) 758-2728.

Next Article: Viton® from DuPont Dow Elastomers Achieves ISO/TS Certification, Meeting Quality and Technical Standards for Auto Industry

Viton® FreeFlow™ and Viton® are registered trademarks of DuPont Dow Elastomers.