Tsu Tah's Goodwill TTE 7 fuel hose benefits from Viton® for low permeability and heat resistance
Tsu Tah Elastomerics Co., Ltd. of Taiwan, a leading supplier of fuel hose to major automotive, motorcycle and off-road vehicle manufacturers worldwide, has chosen Viton® fluoroelastomer from DuPont Performance Elastomers (DPE) for the new Goodwill TTE 7 Series fuel hose, because of its outstanding low fuel permeation, high temperature resistance, and ability to resist close tailpipe contact at up to 200°C.
The company is using 100% Viton® fluoroelastomer in applications where greatest fuel hose permeation and temperature resistance is required, such as engine fuel lines and gas recycling, as well as in applications with Viton® bonded to epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO) where the temperature environment is less severe, such as the fuel tank.
Tsu Tah's Goodwill TTE 7 Series fuel hose of Viton® fluoroelastomer meet the US EPA’s tough emissions regulation CFR 40 1051. They offer outstanding low fuel permeation and high temperature resistance in motorcycle and off-road vehicle applications.
"We are glad to report that DPE provides Viton® as the raw material for our Goodwill TTE EP-A7 and EP7 fuel hose. It enables these two products to pass current US low permeation fuel hose regulations applied by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and California Air Resources Board (CARB)," says Richard Sung, Technical Manager for Tsu Tah."One of our key customers from Japan tested the permeation rate of the fuel hose themselves and found virtually zero permeation through the hose wall of Viton®, so they consider our products to be very reliable. In addition, from a processing point of view, we find Viton® has very good adhesion to ECO, is easily extruded, and maintains its processing and performance characteristics over a long storage period," he reports.
To date, most of Tsu Tah's Goodwill TTE 7 Series fuel hoses of Viton® are being used for off-road applications, such as all-terrain vehicles and mowing machines. However, since 2009, all motorcycles for the US market must comply with EPA regulation CFR 40 1051 for control of emissions from land-based recreational engines and vehicles such as non-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.
According to Richard Sung, the company’s Goodwill TTE 7 Series fuel hose has achieved qualification to EPA CFR 40 1051. Starting in 2009, he expects many motorcycle models to be equipped with fuel lines of Viton® and Viton®/ECO. Tsu Tah currently supplies hose and molded parts to leading motorcycle manufacturers.
As a result of the significant level of interest and number of orders received, Mr. Sung forecasts that Viton® usage will increase in future, driven by ever more stringent environmental protection policies around the world.
