Rhodia Polyamide has announced that its Technyl polyamide engineering plastics have been used for a number of components in the new super-compact Fiat 500 city car voted ‘Car of the Year 2008’.

To achieve this ‘super compact’ car the main challenges for Fiat and Fiat’s Tier 1 suppliers were weight reduction, the design of compact parts with function integration and cost reduction.
In pursuit of these goals, Rhodia’s Technyl polyamides were considered ideal materials for components such as the air intake manifold and cooling fans in the engine compartment, fuel filler pipes, pedals, gear lever housing and rear mirror support.
“Several of Rhodia’s polyamide materials were developed as application-specific in close co-operation with Fiat engineers,” a Rhodia spokesman said. “For example the blow mouldable polyamide used in the fuel filler system, which meets the severe technical criteria set by Fiat to minimise fuel permeation and to pass low-temperature-impact tests.
“For under-the-bonnet applications, Rhodia’s Technyl polyamide materials were selected due to their excellent thermal resistance, as well as their retention of mechanical properties over the lifetime of the vehicle.
“Moreover, Rhodia’s Technyl polyamide materials, designed for external parts, passed the Fiat standard for resistance to the degrading effects of prolonged exposure to UV light.”
In respect of the Fiat 500 project, Rhodia also co-operated with Tier 1 suppliers on part design, providing solid technical support that included Finite Element Analysis, design optimisation and part testing.