PARALOID™ Helps Electric Vehicles to Go the Distance
Electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to transform the automotive industry and increase demand for operational efficiency and improved performance. Thermoplastics are vital in creating lightweight vehicles, allowing improved miles traveled on a single battery charge. Not only do they offer light applications, their durability and dielectric strength make them perfect candidates for the next generation of electric vehicles.
Plastics ensure structure, performance, safety, and regulatory requirements like lower greenhouse gas emissions. EV’s main change in design can be seen underneath the hood. EV technology requires polymer-based battery pack protection separators used for lithium-ion batteries to ensure thermal stability and a more extended charge range.
OEM manufacturers expect plastic components to maintain lightweight characteristics while maintaining impact resistance and strength to endure the harshest environments. Demanding automotive parts require impact modifier technology and processing aids to compensate for inherent weakness, embrittlement issues, and crack propagation. The Dow Chemical Company portfolio of PARALOID™ impact modifiers and processing aids assists EV manufacturers in utilizing various polymer systems that may have intrinsic weakness or lack of melt strength.
EV IMPACT MODIFIERS
The Dow Chemical Company is a leader in impact modifier additives that bond mechanically and chemically with the primary polymer resin and absorb the energy of whatever may impact the electric vehicle component. Dow PARALOID™ impact modifier agents deliver improved toughness while allowing EV manufacturing facilities to save on the weight cost of the automotive component.
Dow core-shell impact modifier agents have a low rubber core, such as butadiene with a methyl methacrylate MMA shell or an acrylate rubber core with an MMA shell. The primary advantage of the core-shell impact modifier from PARALOID™ is the pre-determined size. Impact strength is necessary for acrylic and methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS) due to the exposure to varying temperatures throughout their lifetime. PARALOID™ polymer impact modifiers also aid in maintaining lightweight characteristics. Lightweight components are critical for the design of EV technology as they allow the vehicles to travel farther on a single charge. Dow PARALOID™ impact performance allows electric vehicle manufacturers to improve strength at low temperatures and maintain lightweight requirements.
Demanding structural automotive components for electric vehicles requires polymer applications that are durable, chemically resistant, and maintain performance characteristics in environments with varying temperatures. PARALOID™ can help electric vehicle components by absorbing significant energy and withstanding plastic deformation, which modifies the resin system.
PARALOID™ impact modifier agents provide superior performance capabilities for EV manufacturers, allowing for the exception of low-temperature performance without compromising weatherability, durability, and tensile strength. This new generation of impact modifiers must maintain lightweight characteristics for injection molded components such as bumpers or doors.
Dow Featured Grade: PARALOID™ EXL-2390
PARALOID™ EXL-2390 is an acrylic impact modifier with exceptional low-temperature performance and weathering resistance. PARALOID™ EXL-2390 delivers outstanding impact performance versus standard acrylic and MBS impact modifiers at lower temperatures in polycarbonate and polycarbonate blends.
Key Benefits
Performance reliability
Outstanding impact resistance at low temperatures
More straightforward incorporation of polycarbonate and engineered resin formulations
EV POLYMER PROCESSING AIDS (PPA)
Dow Chemical Company polymer processing aids (PPA) reduce cycle time by enabling higher compounding throughput. Dow Chemical Company processing aids assist in controlling fusion along with melting properties. PARALOID™ polymer processing aids (PPA) allow the polymer to melt without degrading. They facilitate PVC-fusion melting at lower processing temperatures while improving melt homogeneity and cohesion. The net result is lower melt fracture for these PVC processors. Applications for PARALOID™ processing aids (PPA) including fencing, decking, windows, siding, trim, profiles, and pipes.
PARALOID™ consists of high-molecular-weight acrylic polymers that allow for fast fusion times and high melt strength for applications requiring extrusion or calendaring. Furthermore,[SS3] incorporating PARALOID™ PPA assists with formulating the necessary rheology needed for processing. The graph below represents the general improved performance and processing enhancement that PARALOID™ processing aids provide to help avoid melt fracture complications.
PARALOID™ polymer processing aids (PPA) can improve the overall appearance of the final EV component and may also:
Increase output rates and improve production efficiency
Yield a smooth surface free of imperfections
Improve impact performance
Reduce plate-out and melt fracture
Provide uniform cell structure
Save energy due to lower Co-efficient of Friction (COF) between the polymer system and processing equipment
Dow Featured Grade: PARALOID™ K-125
PARALOID™ K-125 enables manufacturing benefits by allowing improved melt strength, lower density, and higher expansion capabilities. This acrylic processing aid improves flexible and rigid PVC profile extrusions and thermoforming applications.
Key Benefits
Promotes fusion of rigid PVC systems
Promotes melt homogeneity
Improves surface finish and productivity
Significant melt strength for enhanced efficiency
Excellent processing aid for rigid and flexible vinyl (PVC)
SUMMARY
EV manufacturers expect their automotive plastic components to go the distance while maintaining their inherent lightweight characteristics. Contact us today if you are interested in learning more about Dow PARALOID™ and how it can support your EV application.
PARALOID and the DOW Diamond are trademarks of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow.
NOTICE: No freedom from infringement of any patent owned by Dow or others is to be inferred. Because use conditions and applicable laws may differ from one location to another and may change with time, Customer is responsible for determining whether products and the information in this document are appropriate for Customer's use and for ensuring that Customer's workplace and disposal practices are in compliance with applicable laws and other government enactments. The product shown in this literature may not be available for sale and/or available in all geographies where Dow is represented. The claims made may not have been approved for use in all countries. Dow assumes no obligation or liability for the information in this document. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean the Dow legal entity selling the products to Customer unless otherwise expressly noted. NO WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN; ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED.
