Rhodia Engineering Plastics, member of the Solvay Group, Valeo, global automotive supplier and car maker PSA Peugeot Citroën jointly carried out a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which proved recycled Technyl polyamide (PA) reduces the overall environmental impact on the car component by 9-28%.
As said, a multi-criteria analysis was done on the entire life cycle of the fan and shroud assembly, an engine cooling component for the new Peugeot 208. The part is manufactured by Valeo using recycled Technyl PA from Rhodia.
The study, which was reviewed by an independent consultancy BIO Intelligence Service, compared the environmental impact of using recycled Technyl PA in comparison with a standard Technyl grade. It took into account the whole value chain emphasizing seven key environmental criteria: climate change, the depletion of non-renewable resources, the impact on the diminution of the ozone layer, acidification, eutrophication, the consumption of primary energy and photochemical oxidation.
The seven targeted criteria showed benefits ranging from 9-28% throughout the component’s entire life cycle. Rhodia says it proved that selecting and using recycled Technyl PA significantly reduces the overall environmental impact.
Furthermore, the results of the analysis indicate that the entire environmental benefit derives from Rhodia Engineering Plastics’ production phase for the manufacturing of the recycled polyamide. According to the material company, it is not altered in any way during the injection molding process or during part assemblage and use since the mechanical performance of the recycled Technyl PA allows for cooling module components with an identical design, weight and part life to that made with a standard Technyl grade.
“The collaboration between partners such as Rhodia and Valeo, both strongly committed to sustainable development, represents a real advantage in surpassing the regulatory limits for CO2 emissions and further reducing the environmental impact of automobiles,” commented Louis David, Assistant Director Paint, Materials and Process PSA Peugeot Citroën. “These significant results validate the importance of the right choice of technically high-performing recycled materials for better auto eco-design.”
The recorded benefit is on the same scale to that of a large automotive series production run. For example, the use of Rhodia’s recycled Technyl PA for the annual estimated fan and shroud assembly production for the Peugeot 208 averts the generation of greenhouse gases is equivalent to that produced by 400,000 cars or photochemical oxidation. It is also comparable to that made by 2.2 million vehicles all traveling around Paris’ ring road, Rhodia states.
Source : http://www.adsalecprj.com/Publicity/MarketNews/lang-eng/article-125452/Article.aspx
