Interiors skins

Interior skins, grips, knobs, mats, plugs, bumpers... 

Figure 15. Bottom surfaces (A) phos-phonylated-PPO reverse osmosis membrane (B) interior skin at lumen of the polysulfone hollow fiber shown in Figure 12.

Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV). TPVs are generally classified as f-TPV and p-TPV, wherein the prefixes indicate fully and partially vulcanized, respectively. Compounds of f-TPVs are typically made with EPDM and PP. In few special TPV compounds, EPDM is replaced by nitrile rubber, and natural rubber as well. The industry benchmark is TPV compounds, and they are sold under the trade name of Santoprene and marketed by Advanced Elastomer Systems (AES) Ltd. Mitsui is also dominant in the TPV based interior skins market in Europe. Seventy-five to 90 percent of TPV compounds are fully cross-linked with EPDM and are priced at approximately 1.80/lb. Two to 10 percent are par-... 

TPV growth in automotive applications wiU be stimulated by its penetration into body/ glazing seals, interior skins, and belting. TPVs ability to be blow molded is a major reason why it is replacing TSRs, mainly neoprene and copolyesters, in automotive uses. It can easily be made into boots and bellows to act as fluid seals, acoustic seals, lubricant containers, and dust protectors. 

TPO(E) applications include ducting, front and rear fascia, interior skins, and NVH components. ... 

Low to medium viscosity at low shear rates and the absence of thixotropy are normally desirable characteristics for slush molded plastisol formulations. These formulation traits will facilitate drainage after the gelation step and leave a part with a minimum of drip and run marks on the interior skin surface." Resin selection can help yield plastisols with these desired rheological characteristics. 

Slush molding of plastisols is primarily used to produce rainboots and overshoes, and secondarily for toy and doU parts, and for automotive interior skin coats. The secondary uses are popular where circumstances such as short mns of many variations militate against rotational molding. The molds, typically low-cost aluminum, are preheated to a temperature at which the plastisol will gel rapidly, then filled with plastisol. After a brief gelation time, the molds are emptied of excess plastisol and placed in a fusion oven, then cooled to permit demolding. 

Reduction of liquid coatings All interior skins, coated fabrics —Originate in German OEMs (e.g., Audi) —Unfavorable for TPO skins... 

Elydrocarbon emission reduction Interior skins, coated fabrics —Favors non-PVC skins/coated fabrics —Adjustment of spray PU and TPU formulas... 

Elimination of off-line skin forming Interior skins —Favors in-mold processes... 

Increased "utility" Interior —Technical grains on interior skins —Washable noncarpet flooring... 

Fig. 2 Interior skin materials and process options for instrument panel and door trim. Notes ( ) indicates incumbent (A) the dominant process (B) evolving processes (C) Recticel process (D) double slush processes evolving (E) also called casting (F) low-pressure molding, primarily used for door trim, starting in IPs and (G) unsupported expanded, integral skin PVC, lowest-cost skin candidate (sometimes called casting). (From Ref. 1.)...

Interior Skins (Instrument Panel, Door Trim)... 

The rapid growth of dry powder, PVC slush molding of interior skins in both the European and North American fleets began in the early 1990s as illustrated in Figure 4. 

Early substitutions can be indicators of material use trends. Some examples of key interior skin substitutions in the European and North American fleets are given in Table 6. 

For instrument panel and door trim skins, technical grains having a geometric (e.g., diamond or square) pattern were introduced in the late 1990s as a substitute for imitation leather grains that have dominated interior skin surfaces for 30 years. 

Zweiglanze coatings that provide a three-dimensional appearance by differentially altering the peaks and valleys of grained surfaces (usually on interior skins)... 

R Eller. Growth opportunities for TPOs in auto interior skins, foams, and acoustic barriers. SPE Automotive TPO Global Conference, Detroit, MI October 2000. 

Automotive interior skins and foams. .. intermaterials competition, technology and global markets. Multiclient Study, Robert EUer Associates, Inc., 1998. 

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