High gloss and weather resistance without any paint
SABIC LNP™ ELCRES™ SLX1271SR: A revolutionary solution for a new level of brilliance
SABIC is expanding its portfolio of weather-resistant LNP SLX copolymers with a new grade that offers improved scratch and abrasion resistance, as well as a high-gloss surface finish without the need for additional coating. This makes exterior components exceptionally weather-resistant and UV-stable over the long term without requiring any additional effort.
It is no coincidence that this new material has made it to the finals of the 2024 Edison Best New Product Awards for outstanding innovations in the Advanced Materials category: The intrinsic UV-absorbing layer helps ensure that the vehicle’s gloss and mechanical performance are maintained throughout its entire lifespan.
However, VOC emissions are also a major concern in the automotive industry. Studies show that up to 95% of the volatile organic compounds in vehicles come from paint. Although the automotive industry is focusing on solutions with a lower environmental impact, such as water-based paints, many of these products still emit some VOCs. As a result, many manufacturers are turning to colored thermoplastics. However, some of these materials struggle to maintain their original aesthetic qualities—such as color depth or gloss—over time, particularly when exposed to abrasion, impacts, harsh weather, and UV light.
LNP ELCRES SLX1271SR offers the best of both worlds. It is a high-quality solution for reducing VOC emissions in automotive exterior components while delivering outstanding aesthetics comparable to those of painted PC and PC/ABS blends. In wet abrasion testing—i.e., during car washing—the polymer demonstrates performance similar to that of painted body panels in terms of scratch resistance and gloss retention.
Thanks to its outstanding properties, LNP ELCRES SLX1271SR from the weather-resistant portfolio will become indispensable in the future for automotive exterior parts such as spoilers, radiator grilles, and mirror housings, as well as for outdoor infrastructure components such as solar panels.
We’d be happy to show you how easy it is for you to switch to low-VOC, high-gloss, durable polymers for outdoor use that don’t require painting.
