DSM highlights gas tank, under-the-hood applications

DSM Engineering Plastics (Room W225a) will be present at NPE with a number of auto-related innovations on show. These include a high pressure gas tank in thermoplastic composite and a portfolio for high temperature polyamide resin for use in engine compartments DSM will also highlight its solutions via speaker presentations at SPI and ANTEC as well as in their Customer Service Center in the West Hall, Room 225A.

On display in the Customer Service Center will be thermoplastic composite gas tanks for compressed natural gas (CNG) that the company is developing with partner Covess (Berbroek, Belgium), a specialist in advanced thermoplastic composite vessels for a wide range of applications.

More on recent developments in thermoplastic-based gas tanks can be found here. A traditional steel tank of 40L weighs around 60 kg, while a composite ‘Type IV’ tank with DSM’s Akulon Fuel Lock polyamide 6-based liner can weigh down to 20 kg.

The tank is wrapped in a continuous fiber reinforced tape based on DSM’s EcoPaXX polyamide 410. Every 10 kg removed from a vehicle translates roughly into a reduction in CO2 emissions from the vehicle on the road of one gram per km.

Together with hydrogen, natural gas is claiming its place in the field of cost-effective and low carbon footprint fuels for use in automobiles. Tim Vorage, Global Incubator Manager DSM Engineering Plastics, will be presenting “Thermoplastic Composite Pressure Vessels” on March 25 during the SPI Business of Plastics Seminars. The presentation, which will take place at 9:30 in the West Building Level 4, Room W414D, will present a novel concept for the production of Type V compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks.

DSM also recently unveiled the next generation of Diablo high temperature resistant grades in its Stanyl polyamide 46 and Akulon polyamide 6 portfolios. These new Diablo grades are aimed at applications in automotive engine compartments such as air intake manifold, ducts and charge air cooler combinations, where temperatures can reach as high as 260°C.

Diablo technology, developed and patented by DSM, improves the long term temperature resistance of materials and has been applied to various types of polyamide. The grades were initially introduced at the recent Fakuma show in Germany.