Innovative radiator tank

Denso has developed an innovative radiator tank using plant-derived resin

A radiator is a must for a automobile with a water-cooled engine. The work of the radiator essentially involves the exchange of heat. Hot water circulating through the cooling circuit cools down after it comes in contact with air as it flows through the radiator tubes. Denso has announced the development of an innovative, plant-derived radiator tank using an organic compound derived from castor-oil tree, which is a plant of the euphorbiaceae (spurge) family. Castor oil is extracted from castor bean seeds.

Planned to start mass production in later 2009 for vehicles sold worldwide, the innovative radiator tank is an effort on the part of the company to reduce CO2 emissions and oil resources. Says Akio Shikamura, managing officer responsible for Denso's Thermal Systems Business Group, "In addition to increasing installations of the new radiator tank to more vehicles, Denso aims to incorporate the new resin into a wide range of products in an effort to reduce the use of limited oil resources, reduce CO2 emissions during a product's life cycle and help prevent global warming. "

The plant-derived resin, which Denso jointly developed with DuPont Kabushiki Kaisha, is produced by a chemical reaction between two organic compounds that are derived from castor-oil tree and petroleum. An additive, such as glass fibre, is then added to the substance to produce the resin. Plant-derived ingredient comprises about 40 per cent of the eco-friendly resin. Since engine compartment components, such as the radiator tank need to be extremely heat resistant and durable, it was previously difficult to develop a resin with a high percentage of plant-derived ingredient.

Compared to conventional products, the new radiator tank releases less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the atmosphere during its life cycle because it is partially made from material extracted from plants, which absorb CO2 through the photosynthesis process. The new product also helps conserve oil, a fossil fuel which is being depleted. Generally, the cost increases for on-board devices that need to be resistant to calcium-chloride, which is contained in large amounts in snow-melting agents dispensed on the road in many colder regions. The newly developed radiator tank is more than seven times more resistant to calcium chloride and can be produced at lower cost compared to conventional products designed for cold regions.