HIGH PERFORMANCE BUMPERS

Solvay Engineered Polymers has created an evolutionary European-spec thermoplastic, DEXFLEX 162HF thermoplastic olefin. Designed to meet the performance and appearance requirements of the new Volkswagen Beetle bumper systems, DEXFLEX has low-temperature impact resistance, a good coefficient of linear thermal expansion, and painted durability.

The fascia material’s impact resistance and painted durability tested well in a series of four low-speed crashes conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the United States, resulting in damages totaling only $134, second-lowest in the test’s history.

Because the design of the VW Beetle requires a net fit between bumper fascia and fenders, the fascia material must resist expanding with temperature better than a conventional TPO. The DEXFLEX 162HF material’s coefficient of linear thermal expansion is below 80 x 10-6, lower than that of other polyolefin fascia materials, and meeting Volkswagen’s mold-shrinkage rate of one percent.

DEXFLEX’s melt-flow rate is high, measuring 15g/10 minutes, allowing for molding on smaller presses.

Solvay Engineered Polymers

905/738-6433

(Circle 159)