TOYODA GOSEI/Product & Technology/Recycling Technology

Development of recycled PET engine covers
Polyamide resin has been used for engine covers. Toyoda Gosei was the first company in Japan to successfully mass produce engine covers using recycled PET bottle material. The PET bottle material is used for blow molding with high-pressure air. The material was easily deformed by heat but the flow rate was low due to the high viscosity. Toyoda Gosei improved moldability by controlling the molecular weight and adding a fluidity-improving agent. We also actualized shock resistance that is equal to or better than existing products by adding elastomers and revising the design form. About twenty 500 ml PET bottles are used per engine cover. Consequently, this is an effective means to increase the recycling use of collected PET bottles.

•Enhancement of the rate of recycled materials used for automotive parts
•Shift to recycled materials with high added value

•Applicable products	•Uses of Recycled PET Resin (Domestic)

•Uses of recycled PET resin (Domestic)

•Manufacturing process

•Technical points

(1) Enhancement of fluidity by controlling molecular weight(Blow material-Injection material)

(2) Enhancement of shock property with elastomer alloys

(3) Improvement of injection moldability by adding a crystal-nucleating agent and controlling the metal mold temperature

•Product and material performance