New low-emission “Delrin” 300TE acetal resin is the first impact-modified POM from DuPont Performance Polymers (Wilmington, Delaware / USA; www.dupont.com) to meet the automotive industry's demanding requirements for the use of plastics in vehicle interiors, where high resistance to impact load is required, the company says. Tests of samples of the new impact-modified material indicate formaldehyde emissions of 1.0 mg/m² and below, considerably below the limit of 2.0 mg/m² set by leading German OEMs. This means that the new material meets the world’s most stringent requirements with regard to VOC emissions in the sector, DuPont claims.

“Delrin” 300TE, which has a melt flow index of 6 g/10min, is considerably more impact resistant than 300PE, a previously launched low-emission grade that also is suitable for use in automotive interiors. It achieves a notched impact strength at 23°C of 18 kJ/m2. DuPont said that, in common with its other acetal resins, the material combines high strength, hardness and stiffness over a broad temperature range with high abrasion resistance and a low coefficient of friction, high heat deflection temperature, good electrical and dielectric properties and high dimensional stability.

Hans-Hermann Kirner, material development manager for automotive interiors at DuPont, said: “Thanks to its high-melt flow, thin-walled parts with long flow paths – for instance the struts used in headrests – are among the principal areas for developments in “Delrin” 300TE”. Additional low-emission grades for delicate, small parts are in development, DuPont said.