PARALOID™ Helps Electric Vehicles to Go the Distance

Plastics ensure structure, performance, safety, and regulatory requirements like lower greenhouse gas emissions. EV’s main change in design can be seen underneath the hood. EV technology requires polymer-based battery pack protection separators used for lithium-ion batteries to ensure thermal stability and a more extended charge range.

OEM manufacturers expect plastic components to maintain lightweight characteristics while maintaining impact resistance and strength to endure the harshest environments. Demanding automotive parts require impact modifier technology and processing aids to compensate for inherent weakness, embrittlement issues, and crack propagation. The Dow Chemical Company portfolio of PARALOID™ impact modifiers and processing aids assists EV manufacturers in utilizing various polymer systems that may have intrinsic weakness or lack of melt strength. 
 

The Dow Chemical Company is a leader in impact modifier additives that bond mechanically and chemically with the primary polymer resin and absorb the energy of whatever may impact the electric vehicle component. Dow PARALOID™ impact modifier agents deliver improved toughness while allowing EV manufacturing facilities to save on the weight cost of the automotive component. 

Dow core-shell impact modifier agents have a low rubber core, such as butadiene with a methyl methacrylate MMA shell or an acrylate rubber core with an MMA shell. The primary advantage of the core-shell impact modifier from PARALOID™ is the pre-determined size. Impact strength is necessary for acrylic and methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS) due to the exposure to varying temperatures throughout their lifetime. PARALOID™ polymer impact modifiers also aid in maintaining lightweight characteristics. Lightweight components are critical for the design of EV technology as they allow the vehicles to travel farther on a single charge. Dow PARALOID™ impact performance allows electric vehicle manufacturers to improve strength at low temperatures and maintain lightweight requirements. 

Demanding structural automotive components for electric vehicles requires polymer applications that are durable, chemically resistant, and maintain performance characteristics in environments with varying temperatures. PARALOID™ can help electric vehicle components by absorbing significant energy and withstanding plastic deformation, which modifies the resin system.

PARALOID™ impact modifier agents provide superior performance capabilities for EV manufacturers, allowing for the exception of low-temperature performance without compromising weatherability, durability, and tensile strength. This new generation of impact modifiers must maintain lightweight characteristics for injection molded components such as bumpers or doors. 
 

Key Benefits

• Performance reliability
• Outstanding impact resistance at low temperatures
• More straightforward incorporation of polycarbonate and engineered resin formulations 

Dow Chemical Company polymer processing aids (PPA) reduce cycle time by enabling higher compounding throughput. Dow Chemical Company processing aids assist in controlling fusion along with melting properties. PARALOID™ polymer processing aids (PPA) allow the polymer to melt without degrading. They facilitate PVC-fusion melting at lower processing temperatures while improving melt homogeneity and cohesion. The net result is lower melt fracture for these PVC processors. Applications for PARALOID™ processing aids (PPA) including fencing, decking, windows, siding, trim, profiles, and pipes.

PARALOID™ consists of high-molecular-weight acrylic polymers that allow for fast fusion times and high melt strength for applications requiring extrusion or calendaring. Furthermore,[SS3]  incorporating PARALOID™ PPA assists with formulating the necessary rheology needed for processing. The graph below represents the general improved performance and processing enhancement that PARALOID™ processing aids provide to help avoid melt fracture complications.

PARALOID™ polymer processing aids (PPA) can improve the overall appearance of the final EV component and may also: 

• Increase output rates and improve production efficiency
• Yield a smooth surface free of imperfections
• Improve impact performance
• Reduce plate-out and melt fracture
• Provide uniform cell structure
• Save energy due to lower Co-efficient of Friction (COF) between the polymer system and processing equipment 

Key Benefits

• Promotes fusion of rigid PVC systems
• Promotes melt homogeneity
• Improves surface finish and productivity
• Significant melt strength for enhanced efficiency
• Excellent processing aid for rigid and flexible vinyl (PVC)