Royal DSM, a global science-based company, has developed a new high temperature resistant grade of its Arnitel thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (TPC) for production of flexible hot charge air ducts used in turbocharged engines.

Arnitel HT will allow system suppliers to produce the ducts in a single material and using a single process step. The current standard practice is to assemble separate elements in hard thermoplastics or metal and soft thermosetting rubbers, which need to be produced in diverse operations. Switching to Arnitel HT will provide producers with a significant improvement in process efficiency, cost reductions of up to 50 percent and weight reduction of up to 40 percent.

Hot charge air ducts are common features in advanced petrol and diesel engines. They transfer hot compressed air from the turbocharger or the supercharger to the intercooler in a system that increases the efficiency of the engine by using higher operating pressures.

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