The two-day conference, Under-the-Hood Innovation: Polymers and Thermal Management, organized by ITB Group and held on 6 and 7 May, in Novi, Michigan, USA, focused on the use of innovative plastics for under-the-bonnet plastic parts and hosted some of the most prominent industry members and experts.

During day one of the event, RadiciGroup and its customer and partner Röchling, a global leader in the manufacture and processing of high-performance thermoplastic and composite materials, were co-presenters on the topic “New High Temperature Blow-Molding Grade Polyamide for Turbo Air Ducts”.

“At the conference in Michigan,” Erico Spini, marketing & application development director of RadiciGroup Plastics, commented, “we introduced a new blow-moulding grade material in the Radilon® XTreme family, developed in collaboration with Röchling for turbo air duct applications. This polyamide features excellent heat resistance and was specially designed to optimize its blow-moulding processability.”

“Compared to the 15%-glass-fibre reinforced PPS materials already being used for turbo duct applications,“ Mr. Spini added, “the new Radilon® XTreme X6705 has exhibited improved heat ageing resistance in air at 230°C, as evidenced by less deterioration in impact strength at break and tensile deformation at break. Turbo ducts made with Radilon® XTreme X6705 have successfully passed tests under long duration thermal cycles and pressure pulses.”
Numerous companies attended the two-day event: from OEMs, such as FCA, FORD, GM, NISSAN, HONDA, TOYOTA and HYUNDAI-KIA, to tier 1 companies, such as ABC GROUP, DENSO, MAHLE, SANOH, STANT, COOPER STANDARD and TI AUTOMOTIVE.

The Under-the-Hood Innovation conference was the first of three ITB events in 2015 focusing on the AUTOMOTIVE sector, in which RadiciGroup is going to participate. In October, the Group will be in China for the other two events: Plastic Engine Parts (28 October) and Automotive Fuel Systems China (29 October).