Mercedes-Benz-A-Class engine cover in bio-based polyamide from DSM

Mercedes-Benz has chosen a high performance polyamide largely made from renewable resources for the engine beauty cover of the brand-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Around 70% of the raw materials used to make the polyamide 410 in DSM’s EcoPaXX® Q-HGM24 reinforced compound are derived from the castor plant (Ricinus communis).

The engine cover, used on turbo-powered petrol-engine versions of the new A-Class, has to meet very demanding performance specifications, which are complicated by its large size. With dimensions of 575 by 550mm, and operating in an environment that can reach temperatures more than 200°C, resistance to warpage and high dimensional stability are important.

… Full text: www.plasticsengineering.org/node/6131

Tags: better fuel-efficiency, mass-production, engineering bioplastics, heat resistance