To echo the increasing awareness of environmental protection around the globe, Executive Yuan passed the laws which will effectively ban the sales of fuel-powered engines in 2035, commencing the transition from fuel-powered to electric motorcycles with regard to new motorcycle sales. However, in addition to mobile-source air pollution from motorcycles emissions, the volatile organic compound (VOC) added in the traditional processes of motorcycle manufacturing is also one of the causes of air pollution (PM2.5). In order to tackle air pollution, Covestro offers alternative methods to reduce VOC and the creations of PM2.5. Bayhydrol® and Bayhydur®, our newly developed technology, includes a waterborne polyurethane (PU) coating to facilitate the motorcycle industry in the successful transition from “solvent-borne” to “water-borne” technology. Covesto’s polyurethane (including thermoplastic polyurethane, TPU), polycarbonates (PCS), and thermoplastic composites also provide comprehensive solutions for electric vehicle bodies, battery packs, and charging stations and piles with lightweight and longer cruising distance.
Taiwan has the highest density of motorcycles in Asia, and as a result, people are exposed to large amounts of exhaust emissions from road traffic. According to statistics from the Environmental Protection Administration, one-third of the air pollution in Taiwan comes from the mobile-source air pollution from automobiles and motorcycles . Aside from exhaust emissions, traditional motorcycle production processes, such as painting, spraying and coating, often cause massive VOC emissions due to the use of solvent-borne solutions, and even the use of them in the manufacturing process poses industrial safety risks.
Water-borne coating technology: eco-friendly and safer for operateration
To help motorcycle manufacturers go green, Covestro Taiwan has showcased Bayhydrol® dispersion and Bayhydur® polyisocyanate crosslinkers, and a variety of waterborne coating material solutions, that are suited for single- or two-component waterborne PU coating developments. They can be applied in vehicle exterior primers, base coats, top coats, clear finishes, and at various coat levels. They can also reduce VOC emissions by up to 80%, as well as improve the safety of the production environment. Furthermore, Covestro’s latest water-borne PU coating solution has excellent reactivity and, in comparison with traditional water-borne solutions, further reduces energy consumption which lowers carbon dioxide emissions during production. Feature properties of the two-component water-borne PU coating technology include: easy to spray, suitable for a wide range of working conditions, and a blister film-free thickness. It produces outstanding results for the texture and exterior design of the motorcycle, and the overall application efficiency is similar to that of the solvent-borne system.
“The water-borne technology plays an important role for various industries on the road towards sustainability and “going green”,” said Nick Sun, Head of the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialities (CAS), Covestro Taiwan. “After years of development and technological innovation, Covestro's water-borne technology’s coating properties are not just comparable to solvent-borne solutions, but even better. In order to carry out the environmental philosophy in the process of industry transition, Covestro hopes that practical applications of its water-borne technology will help Taiwanese businesses to achieve our goal of eco-friendliness together.”
Due to the conditions that motorcyclists encounter, there is a growing demand for scratch resistance, weather resistance, and UV resistance. Covestro’s two-component water-borne PU coating not only offers a superior performance to that of the traditional solvent coating technology but also ensures the vehicle’s exterior maintains a new glow. In addition to the technology, in response to the various requirements of coating performance and the complexity of the water-based paint coating, Covestro is also providing motorcycle manufacturers with professional and comprehensive collaboration and support.
Better technology means lightweight vehicles
Besides the issue of air pollution, the development of electrical vehicles still requires solutions to produce better battery capacity and longer cruising distance. Therefore, striving to design lighter vehicle bodies and components is crucial. Meanwhile the universal availability of charging stations or piles is becoming a key problem. As the inventor of polyurethane and polycarbonates technologies, Covestro is devoted to technological innovation and to leading the industry transition and development. In terms of the vehicle bodies, Covestro’s polyurethane soft foam is applicable to motorcycles seats for enhanced comfort, and TPU can also be used for handlebars, tires, and other soft plastic applications. Polycarbonates(PCS) are suitable for vehicle lights, battery packs, electrical vehicle interior and exterior components. Thermoplastic composites, using PCS as a base material, also boasts properties such as being light-weight and having a high level of robustness. It can also be applied to electrical vehicle interior and exterior components, battery exteriors, and other areas of production, and provides a unique design quality to the products. In terms of charging station and pile applications, Covestro also provides various material solutions, among which PCS can effectively reduce production costs and extend the lifetime of the product, while polyurethane rigid foam will provide an overall lighter weight.
With sales of EUR 14.1 billion in 2017, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main sectors served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) as at the end of 2017.
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