Researchers Develop Recycled Plastic for Automotive Wire Harness Connectors

TOKYO—Yazaki Corp. and Toray Industries Inc. have developed a new recycled plastic formulated specifically to mold connectors for automotive wire harnesses.

The plastic, Ecouse Toraycon, is a chemically recycled polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin produced by depolymerizing and repolymerizing scrap sourced from various manufacturing processes. The resin has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions originating from connector production while maintaining equivalent performance properties to virgin materials.

Challenges in recycling resins often involve contamination from external elements and compromised material quality. However, through chemical recycling, the companies have provided a recycled PBT resin that matches the standards of virgin material for moldability, quality and stability.