Technyl eXten, unveiled to the public on the occasion of the Chinaplas trade show in Shanghai, is helping Rocket Electric Co Ltd – one of the world’s five largest manufacturers of battery cells – increase the service life of its AA and AAA ranges of alkaline batteries by up to 50 per cent, a company statement says.

In addition to the environmental benefits related to the product’s bio-based origin, castor oil, Technyl eXten has a higher level of performance than conventional engineering plastics, it adds.

“Due to its extremely high chemical resistance and exceptional behavior during the moulding and assembly of small parts, Technyl eXten increases performance stability over time.”

Rocket drew specifically on this latter advantage to improve its manufacturing process.

DH Kim, quality technology team manager, Rocket Electric, said Technyl eXten had made it possible for his firm to offer its customers batteries that last 30 to 50 per cent longer than was possible with conventional materials. Frank Laganier, director of Rhodia Polyamide’s engineering plastics business unit for the Asia-Pacific region, said bio-based engineering plastics were poised to become the obvious choice in all technical products markets.

With this new application, Rhodia once again reaffirms its stance as a responsible chemical company strongly committed to sustainable development by reducing waste in the electronics industry.