August 6th, 2009
Ford says its greening paint, regardless of the paint's color
Putting paint onto new cars entails off-gassing, heating, drying, some intensive engergy-use. At least that’s how it used to be. Ford says it is now converting plants to a new process that applies three layers one after the other. Simplifies, shortens and fredcues energy needs of the car painting process.
In addition to reduced energy use and lessened CO2 emissions, Ford can claim, “There also is a Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions savings of 5 percent related to processing.”
OTHER GREEN MOVES
Ford researchers at Ford’s European Research Centre in Aachen, Germany recently announced they are investigating an innovative, new wood-plastic compound (WPC) – also known as liquid wood. The material’s derived from a rubber compounding process. Analysis has shown that the recyclability of liquid wood is excellent because the material can be reprocessed up to five times. The overall CO2 balance is almost neutral.
Auto paint of “liquid wood” solidified. Courtesy: Ford
Some of Ford’s other recycled materials: soy-based polyurethane foams on the seat cushions and seat backs. Ford says this results in the reduction of petroleum oil usage by 1 million pounds annually.
Other claims: 100 percent post-industrial recycled yarns in seat fabrics, resulting in a 64 percent reduction in energy consumption and a 60 percent reduction in CO2 emissions.
100 percent post-consumer recycled yarns in seat fabrics made from pop bottles.
Underbody systems, such as aerodynamic shields, splash shields, and radiator air deflector shields, made from post-consumer recycled resins such as detergent bottles, tires and battery casings.
A newsman since 1969, Harry Fuller has worked for CBS, ABC, CNBC Europe, CNET and was founding news director at TechTV. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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