Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Masaaki Ito) hereby announces that GENESTAR, a highly-functional polyamide resin that it has developed, was chosen as a component material for the MIRAI, a fuel-cell vehicle (FCV) produced by Toyota Motor Corporation. Taking advantage of the boost in popularity that Toyota’s adoption is sure to give GENESTAR, Kuraray is working to promote the material for use in automotive parts.
About GENESTAR
- Kuraray’s development of this proprietary heat-resistant polyamide resin began with the creation of raw material monomer. In 1999, Kuraray became the first in the world to successfully commercialize such a material, PA9T, which it launched under the name GENESTAR.
- GENESTAR is highly resistant to heat, chemicals and friction while boasting low water absorption and superior electrical insulation.
- Thanks to these features, GENESTAR is used for connectors in smartphones, personal computers and other electric and electronic appliances as well as to make LED reflectors. Moreover, it is gaining popularity in the automotive industry in harmony with growing demand for lightweight vehicles. Specifically, GENESTAR is widely used for cooling system components, fuel tubes and other auto parts, providing a lightweight alternative to metal.
■ Why GENESTAR was chosen for the MIRAI
Fuel-cell vehicle MIRAI
- Fuel-cell vehicles are equipped with a fuel-cell stack, an essential component of the power generation system, which harnesses the energy released by the reaction of hydrogen fuel and atmospheric oxygen.
- The MIRAI has a “stack manifold,” a piping component for fuel-cell stacks (produced by TOYOTA BOSHOKU CORPORATION) that supplies coolant water for fuel cells as well as hydrogen fuel and oxygen. GENESTAR was chosen for this piping component.
- GENESTAR boasts superior mechanical and electrical properties in high temperature and humidity environments. Thus, it is well suited to use in the stack manifold, while providing a significant weight and volume reduction.
