SABIC launches recycled automotive resins

Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has introduced automotive resins containing mechanically recycled content under its Trucircle portfolio of circular solutions and services. The new resins include SABIC T2E-3320EH PP compound, which is a high-flow, low-emission, talc-filled polypropylene (PP); Xenoy T2NX2500UV resin, which is an unfilled, UV-stabilized blend of polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); and Xenoy T2NX5230 resin, which is a mineral-filled PC/PET blend.

According to a news release from SABIC, all three materials contain up to 29 percent recycled content and offer similar performance to that of virgin resins. The company says the new resins give automotive customers “new options that can help them address their sustainability goals.”

“The new Trucircle materials support the automotive industry’s sustainability initiatives by providing an opportunity to extend the life of plastic waste and helping to increase value from postconsumer products,” says Abdullah Al-Otaibi, general manager of ETP and Market Solutions for SABIC. “These new products are the first of many SABIC resins to be introduced with mechanically recycled content for potential use in interior and exterior automotive applications. They also may complement other types of sustainable materials, such as certified renewable products from bio-based content, which we are also developing. It’s all part of SABIC’s strategy to accelerate towards a circular economy.”

According to SABIC, its new T2E-3320EH PP compound features stiffness, low emissions and high heat resistance for nonvisible heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) components within the instrument panel and interior and under-the-hood parts. An internal life cycle assessment (LCA) showed that SABIC’s T2E-3320EH PP compound offers a reduced product carbon footprint of up to 24 percent compared with the corresponding virgin PP compound because it incorporates 25 percent recycled PP.

SABIC says its new Xenoy T2NX2500UV resin contains 21 percent recycled PET. The company says it provides good heat and impact performance, dimensional stability and low shrinkage for painted exterior body panels, spoilers, fuel filler doors and trim. It is also UV stabilized for potential use in unpainted applications.

The company’s new Xenoy T2NX5230 resin contains 16 percent mineral reinforcement and 29 percent recycled PET. Similar to the Xenoy T2NX2500UV resin, this new resin delivers properties that make it a potential solution for painted body panels, trim and other automotive components. SABIC reports that the resin’s reinforcement delivers higher stiffness and a lower coefficient of linear thermal expansion compared with Xenoy T2NX2500UV resin, making this resin a good candidate for roof spoilers and exterior trim. Both Xenoy grades offer high flow for improved throughput.