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As the automotive landscape progresses towards the integration of hybrid and fully electric vehicles, the internal combustion engine (ICE) still holds its ground as the go-to propulsion method within the industry. The necessity for internal combustion engines to evolve and meet the growing demands for performance enhancements is paramount as we navigate through the industry's future transformations. This evolution encompasses everything from engine downsizing for enhanced weight efficiency to the imperative reduction of emissions. In this quest for optimized internal combustion engines, the pursuit of high-performance polymers emerges as a critical path for manufacturers. These material solutions are essential in adhering to the rigorous demands and regulations that the industry faces.

Arkema is at the forefront, offering superior material solutions that enable manufacturers to navigate the intricate needs of the market while crafting innovative and forward-thinking solutions that will shape the automotive future. Our esteemed range of products is designed to tackle key issues head-on, enhancing safety, ensuring intelligent air control, optimizing thermal management, improving powertrain efficiency, and beyond.

Material Solutions for Internal Combustion Engines

Fluid Management Solutions

For over six decades, long-chain polyamides such as Rilsan® Polyamide 11 and Rilsamid® Polyamide 12 resins have been pivotal in manufacturing fuel lines, owing to their blend of superior flexibility, exceptional mechanical strength, and remarkable chemical resistance. This resistance is crucial not only to fuels but also to metal chlorides derived from road salts, highlighting their importance in the internal combustion engine's ecosystem. Arkema leads the way in advancing these material solutions by introducing multi-layer structures that encapsulate high-performance polymers. These structures deliver unparalleled fuel barrier properties without sacrificing mechanical and chemical performance. Arkema's latest innovations in low wash-out solutions set a new benchmark, fulfilling the stringent requirements essential for high-quality material solutions in the internal combustion engine sector.

Download the Rilsan® PA 11 Low Washout Fuel Lines Case Study

Download the Rilsan® PA 11 Low Washout Conductive Fuel Lines Case Study

DOWNLOAD THE RILSAN® PA11 LOW WASHOUT IN-TANK MONO-LAYER LINES FOR HYBRID CARS CASE STUDY

Cooling Line Solutions

The cooling of internal combustion engines relies on the effective heat transfer to a mixture of water and glycol coolant. For over twenty years, high-performance polymers such as Rilsan® Polyamide 11 and Rilsamid® Polyamide 12 have been the materials of choice for crafting the degassing pipes integral to this cooling system. When it comes to manufacturing hoses that must transport high-temperature coolant and meet the most rigorous demands, Rilsan® HT presents an unparalleled thermoplastic solution. Offering flexibility that traditional materials like metal and rubber cannot, Rilsan® HT embodies the advancement in material solutions designed to enhance the efficiency and reliability of internal combustion engines.

Emission Control System Solutions

Over the past six decades, emission levels from light vehicles have dramatically decreased by over 90%, leading to significant reductions in CO2 emissions as well as pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. In response to stringent national regulations, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have been compelled to innovate and implement specific emission control systems. Technologies like high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and crankcase ventilation systems, alongside selective catalyst reduction and low-pressure EGR, have become staples in this endeavor. These systems necessitate materials that can withstand extreme chemical and thermal conditions. Arkema's high-performance polymers, particularly its long-chain polyamide materials, emerge as exemplary solutions, offering the durability and resistance required for these critical components of the internal combustion engine's emission control systems.

DOWNLOAD THE RILSAN® HT CRANKCASE CASE STUDY

Sustainability in the Automotive Market

Bio-based Materials 

Arkema is the leader of Advanced and Bio-circular material for automotive applications, coming from castor oil. Our flagship Rilsan® Polyamide 11 has a proven legacy in meeting some of the world’s most demanding material challenges and it is derived from the castor bean, a renewable crop that does not compete with food and does not cause deforestation. Arkema is a leading driver of renewable castor farming in India. More about our sustainable solutions:


More about our sustainable solutions

Virtucycle® program: partially recycled material

The Virtucycle® program is a partnership program offered to Arkema’s high-performance polymers customers and downstream users. 
The program enables our partners to “step into the loop” by providing polymer for reprocessing or to source new materials with minimum recycled content and no compromise in performance

MORE ABOUT OUR VIRTUCYCLE® RECYCLING PROGRAM

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