Denso has announced that is to begin using plant-derived plastic materials in some of its products in order to reduce its environmental footprint.
The bio-polycarbonate (PC) which will be used by Denso is made from starch and urethane resin extracted from castor oil.
Starch-derived bio-PCs have “higher surface hardness, better optical characteristics, and superior hydrolytic stability than conventional petroleum-derived PCs,” according to the manufacturer.
They also “refract less light, exhibit better colour-forming properties, and do not need to be painted before being used.”
Denso’s starch-derived bio-PC can be shaped into complex designs and is being used to make plastic bezels for Toyota’s car navigation systems.
Castor oil, a vegetable oil extracted from castor beans, is used as a material in paints, waxes, and other products.
Denso has developed a heat-resistant urethane resin based on the molecular structure of castor oil and used it as a protector for connectors in automotive exhaust gas sensors.
Denso’s newly developed urethane resin costs less than silicone resins and can withstand up to 150° C, while reducing the amount of gases produced when being melted and formed into shapes.
In 2009, Denso collaborated with DuPont to develop and commercialise a radiator tank made from a material extracted from castor oil; since then, Denso has been increasing the number of vehicle models that use the product.
Denso plans to continue to develop and increase the number of products made from plant-derived plastics.
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