Ford Australia's Next-Generation Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) System Uses Fuel Rail Made of Amodel® PPA
Solvay's 33% Glass-Filled Grade Provides Strong Burst Strength and Fatigue Resistance in Ford's Latest Alternative Fuel Vehicle
ALPHARETTA, Ga. - Ford Australia's new EcoLPi Falcon model boasts next-generation liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) technology which delivers impressive fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions. The EcoLPi system's in-line six-cylinder engine features a thermoplastic fuel rail made of Amodel® polyphthalamide (PPA) resin from Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC. Ford's launch earlier this year in Australia is a key component of its sustainability initiative, reinforcing the company's position as a leading supplier of alternative fuel vehicles.
This unique application is a key part of Solvay's automotive strategy which focuses on the development of sustainable solutions, according to Brian Baleno, Amodel PPA product manager for Solvay Specialty Polymers. "We are very encouraged by the use of Amodel products in alternative fuel applications," said Baleno. "Solvay continues to work with automotive Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs to provide sustainable systems that provide increased fuel efficiency and environmental friendly vehicles through reduced emissions."
The cornerstone of the EcoLPi engine is the new LPG injection system which uses a new injector-based, high-pressure fuel rail that delivers liquid-state LPG fuel directly into the intake port. Preliminary testing reveals a 12%-15% improvement in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions for liquid phase LPG injection technology compared to the previous E-Gas venturi-style LPG vapor system.
Amodel A-1133, a 33% glass-filled PPA grade, provides strong static burst strength and fatigue resistance at high temperatures and withstands ozone gas. The material is a proven alternative to metal in this highly pressurized fuel injection application. It withstands static burst pressures up to 2000 psi (13.8 MPa) at room temperature and 1000 psi (6.9 MPa) at 248°F (120°C).
The EcoLPi liquid phase injection LPG system produces 27% more power and 10% more torque than previous E-Gas LPG vapor systems, while at the same time reducing fuel consumption by 12%-15%.
Amodel PPA is one of the industry's most specified materials for automotive under-the-hood applications. For more than 20 years, it has been known for its high flow/fast cycling, high HDT for lead-free soldering, excellent chemical resistance, low moisture absorption/strong dimensional stability, and impact performance for practical toughness.
About Solvay Specialty Polymers
Solvay Specialty Polymers manufactures more products with more performance than any other polymer company in the world. The company supplies over 1500 products across 33 brands of high-performance polymers - fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, aromatic ultra polymers, high-barrier polymers and cross-linked high-performance compounds - for use in Aerospace, Alternative Energy, Automotive, Healthcare, Membranes, Oil & Gas, Packaging, Plumbing, Semiconductors, Wire & Cable, and other markets. Learn more at www.solvayspecialtypolymers.com.
Solvay is an international chemical Group committed to sustainable development with a clear focus on innovation and operational excellence. Its recent acquisition of specialty chemicals company Rhodia created a much larger player which is realizing over 90% of its sales in markets where it is among the top 3 global leaders. Solvay offers a broad range of products that contribute to improving quality of life and its customers' performance in markets such as consumer goods, construction, automotive, energy, water and environment, and electronics. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and its companies employ about 30,000 people in 55 countries and generated EUR 12 billion in sales (pro forma) in 2010. Solvay SA is listed on NYSE Euronext (SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR).
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