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Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition, and materials, is pleased to announce that the modified PA46 Stanyl® HGR2 helped the Ford Motor Company (ford.com) win a 2017 SPE Automotive Innovation Award. Developed by DSM Engineering Plastics, and validated for usage on Ford vehicles, in collaboration with Ford Advanced Materials & Processes and Product Development Teams, in Europe and North America, this low-friction, high wear-resistance material is used in chain tensioner arms in the Ford F-150 and Mustang, which won the materials category. It will soon be implemented across various Ford vehicles globally.
This usage of a modified PA46 resin was piloted on selected vehicles, powered by a 5.0L V8 engine as a drop-in replacement for PA66, providing enhanced wear and friction performance. The resultant fuel economy savings (0.4%) from rotational torque reduction in the cam-shaft (0.5Nm) was equivalent to a 40lb weight reduction at one-tenth the cost. Annual environmental benefits include reductions in gas consumption by 12,000 barrels and green-house gas emissions by 5,000 tons. This innovation is highly translatable, providing affordable fuel economy improvement, and will be utilized on more vehicles beginning in 2018. The total potential environmental impact of translations will be multiple times the values for the Mustang and F-150.
“At DSM, we strive to provide our customers material science to solve their unique challenges and winning this award means a great deal to our entire organization,” said Jud Gibson, Vice President, DSM Engineering Plastics, Commercial Americas. “We feel this is a testament to the great collaborative partnership we have with Ford.”
Traditionally, over 40% of the parasitic frictional losses in the timing drive have been attributed to chain on plastic interaction. DSM closely collaborated with Ford’s Advanced Materials & Processes team in Europe early in the development stage to provide a more efficient solution utilizing the new PA46 material, before rolling the project out on a global scale. It was determined that DSM’s Stanyl HGR2 resin is stiffer, at engine operating temperature, than PA66 and it provides a lower interfacial shear strength, resulting in lower frictional losses and therefore, improved operating efficiency which results in improved fuel economy.
DSM (dsm.com) was recognized for this award at the SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Gala on 8 November 2017. This is the second consecutive year that DSM has been recognized for this prestigious award. DSM won in 2016 for the usage of Arnitel® CM622 resin in heavy duty Vacuum Brake Tubing.
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jenny.gogan[.]dsm.com 
