Renault adopts post-industrial recycled grade of NORYL GTX resin for fenders

14 January 2013

SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business announced that the French automaker has successfully adopted a new post-industrial recycled (PIR) grade of NORYL GTX resin as part of its ongoing drive to comply with the European Union’s end-of-life vehicle (ELV) requirements. The OEM adopted the new SABIC material for the fenders of its 2013 Clio IV and will expand the resin’s use to the upcoming ZOE electric vehicle.

NORYL GTX resins are conductive blends of polyamide (PA) and modified polyphenylene ether (PPE). The PIR grade meets quality and performance standards and further enhances the sustainability benefits of NORYL GTX resin for automotive fenders, which include a weight reduction and up to 47% lower greenhouse gas emissions over the lifecycle of the fender compared to steel.

Renault started its ICARRE 95 project in 2010 to review technical solutions to meet the requirements in Directive 2000/53/EC on the elimination of end-of-life vehicles. ICARRE, which stands for Innovative CAR REcycling +95%, is targeting a 95% recovery rate for ELV materials. Use of the PIR NORYL GTX grade is an important step to help Renault advance toward this target.

To support Renault in the development of the new PIR fenders, SABIC provided a wide range of technical services, including defining and validating the molding conditions, using predictive tools to optimize the fender design and processes, testing application requirements such as impact and dimensional stability, and supporting production processes including online painting and assembly.

Renault has designed more vehicles with fenders molded from NORYL GTX resin than any other automaker. Models include the Twingo, Clio, Kangoo, Scenic, Megane, Laguna, Espace, Wind and Modus. The automaker began development of plastic fenders in 1985 and launched its first in 1989 on the Clio 16S.

Building on its recent success with PIR material, Renault is collaborating with SABIC to develop a closed loop system in which the OEM will harvest the thermoplastic material of fenders from end-of-life vehicles for the production of fenders for new cars. The aim is for Renault to use a post-consumer recycled grade of NORYL GTX resin, a material already in the validation stage, for select vehicles.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) is among the world’s top petrochemical companies. The company is among the world’s market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.