Huntsman Advanced Materials is
involved in a project to build a
concept electric car, the ‘U-Box, using
environmentally sustainable
components. The ‘U-Box’ has been
designed and produced by French
design company, D3. While using
advanced materials from its Araldite
branded portfolio, Huntsman
developed sustainable products for
each stage of the car’s construction.

This included the preparation of
moulds using seamless modelling
pastes and boards and new concepts
for developing different automotive
components using stereolithography
and rapid manufacturing resins, as
well as the use of encapsulation
solutions for electronic components.

Materials such as renewable flax
and basalt fibres for reinforcing
composite parts have been used with
toughened resins and halogen-free, fire
resistant resin and flexible composite.

The ‘U-Box’ benefits from a new
resin range that can be used in fast
cycle, resin transfer molding for high
volume, automotive and mass
transportation parts production.

Thin barrier coatings developed by
Huntsman provide protection for the
flexible Organic Light Emitting
Diodes in the car’s composite
structure. These paper thin, lightweight
devices are said to consume up to
70% less energy compared with
conventional light sources.