- Mitsubishi Chemical and Honda developed recycled PMMA for N-ONE e: door visors.
- The N-ONE e: mini-electric vehicle will be released on September 12, 2025.
- Acrylic resin is recycled through thermal decomposition into MMA.
- Recycling technique ensures quality equivalent to virgin acrylic resin.
Introduction
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have collaborated to develop a recycled PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) material for the door visors of the new N-ONE e: mini-electric vehicle, set to launch on September 12, 2025. This marks a first in the automotive industry for using recycled acrylic resin in door visors.
Recycling Process
Acrylic resin can be chemically recycled by converting it back into its raw material, MMA (methyl methacrylate), through thermal decomposition. Mitsubishi Chemical has been working with Microwave Chemical Co., Ltd. since 2021 to establish a microwave-based thermal decomposition recycling technology.
Challenges and Solutions
Recycling acrylic resin from end-of-life vehicles has been challenging due to unstable quality and unsuitability for reuse. To address this, Mitsubishi Chemical, Honda, and Hokkaido Auto Dismantler corporation conducted demonstration experiments to develop a recycling technique that prevents foreign matter contamination and ensures quality equivalent to virgin acrylic resin.
Environmental Impact
The use of recycled acrylic resin in the N-ONE e: door visors contributes to reducing CO2 emissions during manufacturing and disposal, promoting resource recycling and sustainability.
