With its new product “Caltrel” Dupont Engineering Polymers (Europe: CH-1218 Le Grand-Sacconex; www.dupont.com) has introduced a new system technology for heat transfer in heating, cooling and freezer units. The new system replaces metal pipes and sheet metal with a pipeline system based on polyamides which are used for the heat carrier liquid and heat radiation. This technology allows a fast energy transfer across very low wall thicknesses and can be used in construction and automotive engineering.

The following areas comprise the four potential applications for heat exchangers in cars: superchargers for charged petrol or diesel engines, radiators, air conditioning systems and heating systems. Dupont has already expressed its intention to integrate the four functions into one single system. The low weight of the plastics-based system and the enhanced design potential compared with metal units are of special benefit. In co-operation with the Italian supplier to the automotive industry Magneti Marelli (I-20011 Corbetta; www.marelli.it), Dupont has already developed a radiator prototype. According to reports by both manufacturers, this prototype has a cooling capacity which is comparable to that of the corresponding metal unit.

Dupont runs other development co-operations with two suppliers to the automotive industry, Visteon (HQ: Dearborn, MI, USA; www.visteon.com) and Valeo (F-75917 Paris; www.valeo.com) and with the US company Heatcraft (Grenada, MI, USA; www.heatcraft) which specialises in cooling and air conditioning technology. Potential commercial applications in the area of building technology are cooling systems for shelves, air conditioning systems and air dehumidifiers for rooms, capacitors and heating elements. Benefits include weight and design advantages as well as the system´s corrosion resistance.

In order to market the patented technology more efficiently, Dupont is now seeking licensees for Caltrel.