A leading Tier I parts supplier in India has chosen Zytel Plus Nylon from DuPont (Wilmington, DE) for use in three hot- and cold-side charge air coolers used on four vehicles of a major Indian auto OEM spanning passenger car, utility vehicle, and light commercial vehicle segments.

Tata Toyo (Pune), a joint venture of Tata AutoComp Systems (Pune) and T.RAD Co. (Tokyo) selected the resin to replace specialty nylon resins for added protection against the harsh elements associated with turbo-diesel systems and now has an eye on replacing metals in other applications.

Charge air coolers quickly cool hot air generated by the turbocharger before it is forced through the induction system. Cooler air improves combustion efficiency. Zytel Plus nylon was selected as a replacement because it retains rigidity at high temperatures, offers a better surface appearance and processes with ease. "Weight, performance and cost are critical in our components and systems," says Rajiv Kulkarni, head of Engineering at Tata Toyo, a leading heat-exchange technology supplier.

"Improving powertrain efficiency is critical to improving fuel economy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels," says Patrick Ferronato, director of automotive, DuPont Performance Polymers. "Turbo systems are one of several technologies the industry is quickly adopting to boost the performance of smaller, more efficient engines. The environment these power-boost technologies create is challenging the capabilities of many existing engineering thermoplastics."

Last year DuPont introduced the Zytel Plus family of high-performance nylon and PPA materials that deliver long-term resistance to heat, chemicals and pressure. Unlike specialty nylon resins, the resins retain processing ease typical of traditional nylon resins. This family is targeted primarily at automotive underhood and engine applications.

Collaborating is critical to fast adoption of new technologies that reduce dependence on fossil fuels. DuPont recently invested in several new collaboration facilities, including the India Innovation Center in Pune, India. The facility is focused primarily on the automotive segment with a goal of connecting globally on materials and solutions that improve sustainability, performance, safety, comfort and design while reducing weight and enabling alternative-drive vehicle systems.-[email protected]