Neotec, a lead-free, metallic-coated steel, has been designed for use in vehicle fuel tanks. Corus says that the lead-free nature of Neotec will allow it to meet hazardous substance criteria of the European ELV Directive, and will bring down the costs of recycling when compared to using plastic in fuel tanks.
A spokesman said: “Plastic is significantly more expensive to recycle than steel, and when impregnated with fuel, it poses an additional recycling challenge and further recycling costs, whereas steel is readily recycled.”
The use of plastics in car design was encouraged because the lightness of the material improved a vehicle's overall fuel economy. But as an increasing amount of legislation called for less porosity in materials used in fuel tanks, plastic tanks have had to be made much thicker, with modern plastic tanks made of a number of layers. Corus says that steel tanks, on the other hand, can be just 0.7 – 0.8mm thick, and at 10kg in weight, are now usually lighter than plastic tanks.
ELV recyclers have found it quite difficult to find a market for the mixed plastics recovered from vehicles so far. The removing of plastics components by dismantlers is also seen as highly time-consuming compared to the value of the material.
Corus has already received interest from around the motor industry for the new steel product. Business manager Andrew Milner said: “We have received a very positive response from the industry and Neotec is already being used by the MG Rover Group.”
Motor manufacturers will be responsible for the recycling and recovery of vehicles in the UK from July 2007, although exact details of how this will take place are still to be decided.
For more information on the ELV Directive and its implementation in the UK, see the letsrecycle.com legislation section.
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