Yokohama Rubber : Develops Car A/C Hose to Facilitate US Automakers’ Shift to Next-generation Refrigerant, Contributes to the Global Warming Prevention
July 31, 2018 at 09:38 am IST
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Tokyo - The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced today that is has developed the 'ACBR series' of hoses for use in car air conditioners. The new hoses are compatible for use with HFO-1234yf, which is seeing more widespread application as the next-generation refrigerant for car air conditioners. The ACBR series includes both high- and low-pressure hoses, which have already been adopted in the all-new 2018 'Jeep® Wrangler' and the all-new 2018 'Jeep® Compass'.
Automobile makers are gradually shifting from the current standard refrigerant, HFC-134a, to HFO-1234yf as part of their efforts to make more environmentally friendly cars that contribute less to global warming. HFO-1234yf has a GWP (global warming potential) of just 4, compared with HFC-134a's very high 1,430. However, faster adoption of HFO-1234yf has been hindered by its decomposition over long periods of time, which causes the release of acids that corrode the resin layer on the inner surface of the hose. To date, countermeasures have included a method for improving the resin material* and a method to prevent contact between the resin and the refrigerant. Responding to a request from a US automaker, Yokohama Rubber has developed a hose structure with a rubber layer inside the resin layer. The development of an inner rubber with improved adhesion to resin was the key to the development of the new ACBR Series of hoses that prevent direct contact between the refrigerant and resin layer, thereby preventing leakage of the refrigerant caused by corrosion of the inner resin layer. Yokohama Rubber has applied patents from Japan for the compound material used in the hoses with this newly developed inner rubber layer.
As part of its ongoing effort to expand its automobile parts business on a global scale, Yokohama Rubber plans to develop a full lineup of these new barrier-type hoses and further strengthen overseas sales.
*Click photo to download high-resolution image for printing.
Outside surface of an ACBR Series hose
*Click photo to download high-resolution image for printing.
Structure of new ACBR Series hoses
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YRC - Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. published this content on 31 July 2018 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 31 July 2018 04:06:09 UTC
The Yokohama Rubber Company, Limited is one of the world's leaders in manufacturing and marketing tires. Net sales break down by activity as follows:
- production of tires (81.3%): for private vehicles, buses, heavy trucks, mining and civil engineering engines, etc.;
- manufacturing of polymer and rubber products (17.3%): high pressure pipes, conveyor belts, seismic products, marine hoses, aircraft products, golf products, etc.;
- other (1.3%).
Net sales break down geographically as follows: Japan (42.2%), Asia (14.6%), North America (26.6%) and other (16.6%).
Yokohama Rubber : Develops Car A/C Hose to Facilitate US Automakers’ Shift to Next-generation Refrigerant, Contributes to the Global Warming Prevention