Car interiors

In a study on the thermal and UV ageing of two commercial polyfoxymethy-lene) (POM) samples, one of which was a copolymer (see related study discussed later under Section 4.3, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)), used in car interior applications, involving both DSC and TGA, isothermal OIT measurements were made at several different temperatures [8]. One conclusion from this study was that "extrapolation of the OIT data from high temperatures (molten state) to ambient temperatures in the solid state does not reflect effective antioxidant performance at room temperature", and thus measurements close to the melting point are not appropriate for reliable lifetime estimations. 

ISO WD 12219-1 Road vehicles-Part 1 Whole vehicle test chamber. Specification and method for the determination of volatile organic compounds in car interiors... 

Brown, S.K. and Cheng, M. (2003) Volatile organic air contaminants within new car interiors. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Indoor Air and Climate, Beijing, China, Vol. 2, pp. 2212-16. 

Grayson, S.J. and Hirschler, M.M., Fire performance of plastics in car interiors, Flame Retardants, February 5-6, London, pp. 197-207, Interscience Communications, London, U.K., 2002. 

Motor vehicles Most of the passenger car interiors including car seats are made of polyester fiber (90% of the world market), and in some cases polypropylene fiber. The flammability testing of fabrics used in motor vehicles, in particular, cars are not mandatory due to the fact that fire incidents in motor vehicles are rare and, moreover, fire spreads relatively slowly. Most manufacturers test seating covers and carpets conform to the U.S. FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) 302 test, which is a simple horizontal flame spread test. Other similar standards are German DIN 75 200, British, Australian BS AU 169, and Japanese JIS D 1201 automotive standards. The curtains and blinds are tested according to tests specific to them discussed earlier. 

Mitsubishi said that it plans to substitute plant-based resins and quick-growing plant fibres for materials such as petroleum-based resins and wood hardboards used in car interiors, for environmental reasons. 

Mandalakis, M., Stephanou, E. G., Horii, Y, Kannan, K. (2008) Emerging contaminants in car interiors evaluating the impact of airborne PBDEs and PBDD/Fs. Environ. Sci Technol, 42 6431-6436. 

Dibutyl phthalate has multiple uses in a variety of materials. Primary uses for dibutyl phthalate are to soften and increase plastic flexibility, for example, in shower curtains, raincoats, food wraps, and car interiors to name a few. It has been used in insect repellents and as a solvent for perfume oil and resins. Dibutyl phthalate can be used as a plasticizer in nitrocellulose lacquers, elastomers, explosives, nail polish, and solid rocket propellants. Other uses include perfume fixative, textile lubricating agent, safety glass additive, printing inks, and adhesives. 

NDMA has been detected in ambient air, water and soil however, monitoring data are rather scant. Low levels of NDMA (measurable in terms of ppb) are commonly found in the air of car interiors, food, malt beverages (beer, whiskey), toiletry and cosmetic products, rubber baby bottle nipples and pacifiers, tobacco products and tobacco smoke, pesticides used in agriculture, hospitals, and homes, and sewage sludge. 

Exposure Levels in Environmental Media. Limited data suggest that NDMA may be found in urban air, but recent comprehensive monitoring data pertaining to the detection of NDMA in ambient air are needed to establish this fact. Occurrence of NDMA in air has been associated with rubber products, leather products, and cigarette smoke and measurable levels of NDMA have been found in car interiors. This information, combined with the fact that NDMA has been found in ambient air at various urban locations, suggests that detectable levels of NDMA exist in the interior air of homes, offices, etc. Studies pertaining to the monitoring of NDMA in indoor air are needed to confirm this supposition. 

Esters of trimellitic (1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid) anhydride provide excellent resistance to volatile loss and oxidation under heat ageing conditions making them the material of choice in applications for which high-temperature thermal stability is required. Insulation for automotive and aircraft cables are typical areas of application. The low volatility of trimellitates is also exploited in car interior components. 

The requirements regarding ambient temperature, shock resistance, media resistance, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) depend strongly on where the sensor will be installed in the car. Typically, sensors in the car interior are exposed to temperatures between -40 and +85 °C while temperatures under the hood and near the engine can reach +125 °C or more. Sufficient EMC essential when sensing low currents because even the smallest interfering fields can result in large... 

Cleary s Waterless Hand Cleaner. [W.A. Cleary] Cone, heavy duty, gentle cleaning agent for removal of pesticide residue, grease, oil, tar, ink, paint carbon, adhesives from hands and work clothes, car interiors. 

An important criterion to consider in choosing a plasticizer is its permanence— how well the plasticizer remains in the polymer. The new-car smell appreciated by car owners is the odor of the plasticizer that has vaporized from the vinyl upholstery. When a significant amount of the plasticizer has evaporated, the upholstery becomes brittle and cracks. Phthalates with higher molecular weights and lower vapor pressures than those of dibutyl phthalate are now commonly used for car interiors. 

There is a multitude of exposed parts attached to the IP retainer, which in the event of an accident, are hkely to strike an occupant. Of great concern are the knee bolsters and glove box, which are likely points of occupant knee impact. For impact resistance, the performance requirement is the retention of sufficient toughness at low temperature, i.e., -30 to -40°C. At such low temperatures, the presence of PC in PC/ABS blends helps to boost impact above that for ABS alone. Another reason PC-based alloys are used in car interiors is the improved chemical resistance over the styrenics, such as ABS. 

The existing test stand method and the standardized analytical process are powerful routine methods to characterize emissions in car interiors in a reliable way. The effects on the lAQ of changes in the interior furnishing can be followed precisely. In combination with measurements on single parts of the interior in emission chambers, products can be constantly improved and the quality of the materials for interior furnishings secured (Bauhof et al. 19%). 

Similarly to building products, the elements of the interior furnishings of a vehicle can emit a multitude of VOCs and SVOCs. In connection with an examination of whole vehicles (see Bauhof and Wensing, Chapter 1.8) a special VOC/SVOC environmental test chamber was developed and used for the examination of single components (assignment of sources). The test chamber is 1 m in size and it consists of stainless steel. Examinations at temperatures of 65 °C and 100 °C are possible (Meyer et al., 1994 Bauhof et al., 1996). Recently, standardized test series have been developed for routine examinations of elements of cars interiors. The test series have been put into practice in laboratories, and they have been validated by means of comparative internal and external measurements (Mdhle and Wensing, 1999). 

MAJOR USES Used as a plasticizer for elastomers explosives nail polish solid rocket propellants nitrocellulose lacquers used in the manufacture of shower curtains raincoats food wraps bowls car interiors safety glass insecticides printing inks paper coatings adhesives. 

OTHER COMMENTS used as a component in elastomers, explosives, and nail polish used in rocket propellants makes plastics soft and flexible used in consumer products such as raincoats, food vraps, bowls, car interiors, vinyl fabrics, and floor tiles used as a textile lubricating agent. 

Problems associated with the deposition of "fog on automotive windscreens have been with us for many years, but only relatively recently has this problem assumed real importance, as most of the major car companies in the USA, Europe, and Japan now ask for compliance to their own fogging tests for most interior trim components. The problem is not specifically related to cellular polymers, and indeed much of the interior trim can be seen not to be cellular. It could also be true that most of the windscreen fogging is derived from air external to the car interior, e.g.. exhaust fumes from traffic. 

There is a lot of competition among plastics manufacturers for car interior components although, however, this area is not expected to show much growth [26,27]. ABS plastics continue to dominate the instrument panel market, while newer materials like Dow Chemical s pulse PC/ABS and Bayer s Bayblend PC/ABS alloys have been introduced for use in dashboard housings, interior mirror surrounds, and steering column covers. The alloy s high heat stability allows pigmentation in pastel colors. 

The choice of binders for the topcoat depends on the end use of the coil-coated metals. Acrylic topcoats were developed earliest, and are widely used indoors for surfaces that are not exposed to water, chemicals, or mechanical stress. Polyester coil coatings provide a good general-purpose finish, and can be used for a wide range of applications (e.g., car interiors and accessories, caravan exteriors, domestic appliances). Tough, abrasion-resistant, and durable general-purpose finishes can be formulated with polyurethane and polyester resins in combination. 

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