Case Study of the Innovation Process Characterizing the Development of the Three-Way Catalytic Converter System

Dexter, Daniel

i

Case Study of the Innovation Process Characterizing the Development of the Three-Way Catalytic Converter System

1979-11-01
By Dexter, Daniel

File Language:

English

Details

Creators:

Dexter, Daniel
Corporate Creators:

John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Corporate Contributors:

United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Subject/TRT Terms:
Publication/ Report Number:

DOT-TSC-NHTSA-79-36 ; HS-804-791
Resource Type:

Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:

United States
Corporate Publisher:

United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Abstract:

This report traces the development of the three-way catalytic converter system from its origins in automaker and chemical firm research in the 1950s, to present plans preparing the system to be the auto exhaust emission control device most widely used on American cars in the 1980s. Multiple forces led to the decision by major automakers in the late 1970s to adopt the system. Among these forces were tightening exhaust emissions regulations; the development of low-cost, mass-producible system components; and institutional factors including strong system advocates, internationalization of the auto industry, and the desire of certain technology-oriented automakers to defend their U.S. market shares by adoption of the system. The paper concludes that the three-way converter system may become the dominant auto exhaust emission control device for American-market cars in the 1980s if problems relating to adoption of the system to 6- and 8-cylinder engines, reduction in requirements for precious metals, and the development of secure sources of supply for those metals are resolved.
Format:

PDF
Funding:

DOT-TSC-1355
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10766/dot_10766_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 1.71 MB]
Collection(s):

Volpe Center
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:f48780c722a3ec7463b52d1061e38c8d4149837cc7f7cbfccb274237cbe8176f

File Language:

English

ON THIS PAGE

Details

Found an issue?

Send us an email at:

publishinghd@cdc.gov

ROSA P serves as an archival repository of USDOT-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by USDOT or funded partners. As a repository, ROSA P retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.