Russian industry has obtained a full-fledged replacement for imported composite materials used in automotive fuel systems. The result of the joint work of DIPO and NPP "POLYPLASTIC" was two specialized compounds under the Tekhnolen brand, intended for critically important elements of the fuel tank.
The technological complexity of the development lay in the need to simultaneously ensure several parameters. The first material has electrical conductivity, allowing static charge to be removed during vehicle refueling — the accumulation of electricity can lead to sparking and ignition. The second compound resists mechanical abrasion of the filler neck head, which occurs during repeated contact with the fuel nozzle.
Developing materials for automotive fuel system parts is a responsible and non-trivial task that requires deep expertise and time. Two and a half years were needed to develop optimal solutions that meet all of the manufacturer's requirements.
Tests confirmed the characteristics of the new materials: the guide neck withstood a series of 500 strikes from a fuel nozzle without losing its functional properties or appearance. The compounds demonstrate resistance to aggressive chemical environments and retain impact strength across a wide temperature range.
The production of the materials is based on Russian base polymers, which ensures technological independence. Industrial supplies of the compounds have already begun.
It should be noted that domestic compounds for fuel systems compete with products from the international chemical concerns BASF, DuPont, and SABIC. Foreign equivalents include electrically conductive PA6-GF polyamides and polypropylene composites with carbon additives.
Russian developments are distinguished by adaptation to climatic operating conditions and compatibility with domestic production equipment. For automakers, supply localization means shorter logistics cycles and stabilization of component prices.
Plastic compounding technology is also used in the production of under-hood components, cooling systems, and electrical connectors for automobiles.
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