New acrylic elastomer from DuPont is 'cost effective for auto hoses & ducts'

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Wilmington, Delaware-DuPont has launched ACE, a new acrylic co-elastomer that it says "cost-effectively fills the gap between high- and mid-range elastomers."

ACE is intended to meet the needs of the global automotive industry for various hoses and ducts, according to the rubber producer. DuPont describes ACE as a replacement for materials such as epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO), chlorinated polyethylene elastomers (CPE) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA-high VA content) and in some cases ethylene acrylic elastomers.

"In terms of performance and cost benefit to the user, is an excellent elastomer offering higher performance than ECO at similar overall cost on a volume basis," said Jacob Sims, global marketing manager, DuPont ACE, in a DuPont statement.

Typical uses for the new elastomer are in intermediate fluid and temperature resistance applications, such as cold side turbocharger hoses, TOC (transmission oil cooler) hoses, and moulded air ducts and fuel hose covers, DuPont said.

ACE is ideal for uses at -40 to 140°C, and where resistance to oil and other automotive fluids is needed, the manufacturer said. DuPont claims its fluid resistance is "especially good when ageing at elevated temperatures, which makes it ideal for TOC hoses and cold side turbocharger hoses."

Other advantages are that it is halogen-free and needs no heavy metal stabilisers.

DuPont says ACE can be mixed on conventional processing equipment and is crosslinked using standard diamine curatives. Alternatively, it can be peroxide-cured, in which case it is suitable for use in polyester-reinforced hoses, the manufacturer said.