High Gloss and Weather Resistance Without Painting
SABIC LNP™ ELCRES™ SLX1271SR: Revolutionary Solution for Renewed Luster
SABIC is expanding its portfolio of weather-resistant LNP SLX Copolymers with a new grade, which is particularly distinguished by improved scratch and abrasion resistance, as well as a high-gloss surface without additional painting. This makes exterior components exceptionally weather-resistant and long-term UV-stable without extra effort.
It is no coincidence that the new material is a finalist for the Edison Best New Product Awards 2024 for outstanding innovations in the Advanced Materials category: its intrinsic UV absorption layer contributes to ensuring gloss and mechanical performance throughout the vehicle's lifespan.
However, VOC emissions also represent a significant concern within the automotive industry. Studies indicate that up to 95% of volatile organic compounds in vehicles originate from coatings. Although the automotive industry is adopting solutions with reduced environmental impact, such as water-based coatings, many of these products still emit some VOCs. Consequently, many manufacturers are opting for pre-colored thermoplastics. However, some of these materials struggle to maintain their original aesthetic qualities, such as color depth or initial gloss, during long-term use, especially when exposed to abrasion, impacts, harsh weather, and UV radiation.
LNP ELCRES SLX1271SR offers the best of both worlds. It is a high-quality solution for reducing VOC emissions in automotive exterior components while simultaneously providing outstanding aesthetics comparable to those of painted PC and PC/ABS blends. In wet abrasion tests – specifically, car wash simulations – the polymer demonstrates similar performance to painted body parts regarding scratch resistance and gloss retention.
Given its exceptional properties, LNP ELCRES SLX1271SR from the weather-resistant portfolio will become an indispensable material for automotive exterior components such as spoilers, grilles, and mirror housings, as well as for outdoor infrastructure applications like solar panels.
We would be pleased to inform you how easily you can transition to low-VOC, high-gloss, and durable polymers for unpainted exterior applications.
