New fuel bladder is first of three projects
expected to revolutionize and enhance materials for the racing
industry
WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 16,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, DuPont (NYSE: DD)
announces a collaboration with Aero Tec Laboratories (ATL), a
leader in safety fuel systems and flexible fluid containment
technology, to bring long-term innovation to the racing industry.
This collaboration begins with the launch of a new fuel bladder for
Formula One cars.
DuPont™ Kevlar® EXO™ was first introduced to the life protection
market in April 2023, enabling body
armor with an unprecedented combination of flexibility and
lightweight strength from an aramid fiber. In fuel bladders, it
significantly enhances performance by providing superior resistance
to impact and abrasion. This improvement in strength allows for the
development of lighter yet highly reliable fuel bladder systems,
meeting stringent FIA requirements while reducing overall weight by
more than 20%. Kevlar® EXO™ thus plays a crucial role in enabling
the creation of high-performance products that prioritize safety
and efficiency.
"The first time we tested Kevlar® EXO™, we knew it was going to
be game changing. We have not seen any new innovation or technology
like this in fuel bladders in decades," said ATL CEO Giles Dawson. "With the weight savings Kevlar®
EXO™ enables, we are excited to see how we can further collaborate
to bring even more innovative FIA-certified products to the
industry. Our development focus for the 2026 regulations where
every race car will utilize with fully sustainable fuel, this
innovative new material has provided several benefits in our
development efforts."
Drawing on their combined knowledge and expertise in safety,
design, racing industry certification, mechanical testing
capabilities, and research and development, DuPont and ATL worked
together to ensure the new fuel bladder complies with FIA safety
standards. This successful collaboration has ultimately led to the
transformation of the way F1 fuel bladders are constructed.
After the success of the initial program, DuPont and ATL plan to
expand their collaboration to explore how they can apply the
learnings from F1 fuel bladders to other racing industries such as
NASCAR, IndyCar, and Le Mans.
"This collaboration goes beyond the fact that Kevlar® EXO™ is
DuPont's biggest fiber innovation in more than 50 years. It also
further proves the variety of game changing applications the
material can have outside of military and defense, allowing us to
take a front row seat in new industries," says DuPont™ Global
Commercial Leader for Kevlar® EXO™ Jill
Clements. "The performance we're seeing from Kevlar® EXO™
has enabled us to look to new markets, applications, and
industries, and we're excited about what's next."
Read more about the new fuel bladders here.
About DuPont
DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global
innovation leader with technology-based materials and solutions
that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees
apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their
best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets,
including electronics, transportation, construction, water,
healthcare and worker safety. More information about the company,
its businesses and solutions can be found at dupont.com.
Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations
section of the website at investors.dupont.com.
DuPont™, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all trademarks and service
marks denoted with ™, ℠ or ® are owned by affiliates of
DuPont de Nemours, Inc. unless otherwise noted. © 2024 DuPont.
About ATL
Aero Tec Laboratories (ATL) is a globally
recognized and respected leader in safety fuel systems and fluid
containment technology. Originally established in 1970 as a design
and testing facility for flexible composite materials, ATL founder
Peter J. Regna soon identified an
opportunity to introduce these innovative composites to the world
of motorsports, and the rest is history. ATL's bladder-type fuel
cells transformed the industry, providing impact-resistant fuel
tanks to the masses, drastically improving driver safety and
significantly reducing the number of fires that were frequent
during that era. Fast forward to today and ATL is stronger than
ever, commanding a unified and aligned workforce that spans over
two continents, with state-of-the-art design and manufacturing
facilities in both the USA and UK.
ATL's capabilities extend far beyond motorsports, offering liquid
containment solutions to a multitude of diverse industries
including aerospace, marine, subsea and defense.
For more information about ATL's standard product offerings and
custom capabilities, please visit atlltd.com.
Contact:
DuPont@nextpr.com
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SOURCE DuPont