Mitsubishi Chemical Group recently announced that its bio-based engineering plastic DURABIO™ has been used in the front grille of Suzuki Motor Corporation's new Fronx compact SUV, which was launched on October 16th.
DURABIO™ is a bioengineered plastic made from isosorbide, a renewable plant-derived raw material that reduces the consumption of petroleum, a consumable resource, and contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions because the plants used as a raw material absorb carbon dioxide as they grow. The material has excellent impact resistance, scratch resistance, and colorability, and can be used in a wide range of applications, including automotive interior and exterior parts, optical and electronic equipment parts, and everyday products.
The recently released Fronx has earned a reputation for impact resistance, weatherability and other outstanding properties, including the ability to achieve smooth, sophisticated designs with the addition of only colorants, eliminating the previously required painting process and reducing the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced during the application process.
It is reported that since the S-Cross was launched in Europe at the end of 2021, DURABIO™ has been widely used in the front grilles of domestic and international models such as the Suzuki Rain Bird, Spacia Custom and Vitara.
DURABIO™ is also being used by Honda Giken Kogyo for the front transparent fender of the CRF1100L Africa Twin, a large adventure series motorcycle, which will be officially launched on March 21, 2024, marking the world's first use of a plant-sourced biobased engineering plastic in a motorcycle's front transparent fender. engineering plastics.
“DURABIO™ is also used in the handle of the “Premium Soft Fit Toothbrush” by Ora2 (Holloway) of the Holtek Group. This product is the first commercially available toothbrush in Japan to receive the Bio-Plastic Label certification, and will be available in Japan on February 14, 2024, and will be the first to receive the Bio-Plastic Label certification in Japan. This is the first time DURABIO™ has been used in toothbrush production.
In addition to this, earlier this year, Mitsubishi Chemical released new biodegradable biopolyester resins (SA916N and SA916F).
The new product, with a high biomass content of more than 60%, flexibility, high tear strength and excellent processing properties have been realized for a variety of applications such as food packaging, plastic grocery bags and agricultural mulch film, and is intended to be used for applications such as food packaging, plastic grocery bags and agricultural mulch film, and to promote further technological development, starting with sample work in Europe and Japan from January this year, and then in the United States.
