Toughness and paintless design capability opening up mobility applications
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda), has adopted DURABIO™, a bio-based engineering plastic from the Mitsubishi Chemical Group (the MCG Group), for the colored bodywork and windshield of its X-ADV motorcycles sold in Japan from December 12, 2024.
As well as providing the toughness and other features required for motorcycle bodywork parts,DURABIO™ can be given a glossy, sophisticated look just by adding colorants. The added value given by the ability to eliminate the conventional painting process was a major factor in the decision to adopt DURABIO™ for this application, marking its first use for paintless bodywork for motorcycles. DURABIO™ has already won acclaim for its outstanding protection against headwinds when used in the windshields of Honda motorcycles. As well as its use in the X-ADV, it has been adopted for the bodywork and windshields of the FORZA 750 and NC750X models already unveiled in Europe.
DURABIO™ is a bio-based engineering plastic made from isosorbide, a renewable plant-derived raw material. It helps reduce the consumption of petroleum, a finite non-renewable resource, and contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gases since the plants that provide the raw material absorb CO2 as they grow. DURABIO™ exhibits outstanding toughness, scratch resistance, and color development properties and is being used in a wide range of fields, including automotive interior and exterior parts, components for optical and electronic devices, and other products used in everyday life.
Through the development of DURABIO™, the MCG Group continues to deliver high-value-added products to drive the realization of a sustainable society.
