EVERBERG, Belgium (Nov. 16, 2010) — Huntsman Polyurethanes has given engineering students at two Belgian universities a racing start in their bid to convert two vintage Citroen 2CVs into “environmentally friendly” race cars.
Thirty engineering students from Leuven Engineering College and the Karel de Grote Hogeschool in Hoboken have received money and materials from a number of businesses including Everberg-based chemical company Huntsman Polyurethanes and Kingspan Tarec, a producer of polyisocyanurate (PIR) and polyurethane (PUR)-based rigid insulation products.
The donations have enabled the enterprising undergraduate team—known as CQS Group T—to transform the gas-guzzling classic cars into low carbon emission racers. The students have so far produced one electric-powered 2CV and another fuelled entirely by bioethanol.
To help the overall scheme to the starting line, Huntsman Polyurethanes and Kingspan Tarec provided a joint financial donation. Kingspan Tarec also supplied a number of PIR foam blocks containing MDI from Huntsman Polyurethanes. These were used to create moulds for the aerodynamic bodywork of each vehicle and other components including seats.
This report appeared in Plastics & Rubber Weekly magazine, a Tire Business sister publication that reports on the United Kingdom's polymer industry.