Daikin Launches Fluorochemical Material to Prevent Fuel Evaporation

In May 2008, Daikin Industries Ltd., a leading Japanese manufacturer of air conditioning systems, launched a newly developed fluorochemical material that reduces the permeation of air-polluting hydrocarbons (HC) contained in automobile fuel.

This fluorochemical material is mainly for use in automobile fuel hoses. It has low permeability and is therefore expected to be effective as a means to meet regulations on preventing fuel evaporation, one of the new environmental requirements of the automobile industry. This new material can be overlaid on and molded with currently used rubber materials, without any adhesives. Thus, hoses made with this material can enhance the low permeability of HC without impairing the ability to withstand bending and twisting.

Currently, heat-resistant fluoroelastomers are used in automobile engine systems. In addition to exhaust emission regulations, the regulation of evaporation of HC in fuel is being introduced in the automobile industry. Daikin therefore established the technology to uniformly mix fluororesins and fluoroelastomers, making use of its proprietary fluoro technology developed over the years. As compared with Daikin's conventional fluoroelastomer, the new material reduces permeation of automobile fuel by about 95%.

Daikin also plans to apply this technology to electric wire coatings and sealant materials.

http://www.daikin.com/press/2008/080424/index.html

Posted: 2008/09/07 05:42:33 PM