Interior plasticizers

An additional parameter introduced into the CMC equation, the commercial factor, is a number that changes not the shape of the tolerance solid but the volume of the tolerance solid. The need for this arose because of the definition of acceptable tolerance limit. It was desired to have an equation in which the tolerance limit would always occur at the value 1.0. Thus, values below 1.0 would be identified as acceptable and values above 1.0 would be identified as unacceptable, or pass and fail, respectively. But the requirements of automotive interior plastics or computer cabinet panels are much more critical than those of toys or single-use pro-... 

Results indicate that while there are significant differences among vehicles, the large majority of car interior materials tested (a random yet indicative cross-section) represent a fire performance that is, at best, mediocre. Moreover, the comparison between the two sets of materials shows that car interior plastics are likely to ignite much faster than commercially available plastics and release heat almost twice as fast. 

The Effect of Surface Texture on the Friction of Automotive Interior Plastics... 

Kawamura, N., Nomura, T., and Nishio, T., Super Olefin Polymer for Material Consolidation of Automotive Interior Plastic Parts, SAE Technical Paper No. 960296, SAE International, Warrendale, PA, 1996. 

Paint imperfections or mechanical damage can occur post-manufacture. Due to the many heat sensitive parts on the car, (for example, tyres, interior plastic trimmings), it is not possible to repaint the vehicle with the standard paint and subject the whole vehicle to the original curing process, which took place at 120°C or above. Special repair coatings have therefore been developed to eope with this situation. Two routes are possible ... 

In contrast to exterior surfaces, the interior plastic surfaces of most vehicles are pigmented rather than coated. The primary reason is that consumers prefer low-gloss, nonglare surfaces that blend harmoniously with interior fabrics and leather. Some plastics used on interior vehicle surfaces are coated to impart special characteristics, such as a soft touch and feel on control knobs antiglare and mar resistance on instrument panel top surfaces and soil and stain resistance for cushioned steering wheel covers. Another reason why interior plastic surfaces are rarely coated is because the potential of exposure to visible or UV radiation, environmental pollutants, chemicals, and mechanical insults is significantly less than for exterior surfaces. 

Coated interior plastic components are also very prevalent and were widely introduced in the 1990s. Automotive stylists use various techniques to design the car interior and more and more coated plastics play an important... 

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