Rocker panels

Anodized aluminum test panels (4 inch by 6 inch) were cut from automotive rocker panels purchased at a local dealership. Before testing cut edges were masked with a potting compound to eliminate edge effects. 

A commercial PVDF/PMMA blend film (Fluorex A, Rexham Corp.) is produced captively by solvent-casting for use in specialty film applications, such as a protective and decorative film overlaminated for automotive parts. It is laminated to metal, followed by fabrication (stamping, rolling) into automotive parts such as rocker panels, hubcaps, pillar posts, door edge guards, etc. The role of PVDF in this blend is to offer chemical resistance coupled with weather resistance. 

Rocker panels CLTE, impact, paintability Elastomer modified, mineral filled... 

Wheel arches and rocker panels in RIM-PUR (courtesy Dow Plastics). 

The first major industrial use of thermoplastics (a filled blend of polycarbonate [PC] and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene [ABS]) in an automotive exterior door panel, rocker panel, and rear panel was introduced by The Dow Chemical Company in a special process developed for the General Motors Saturn line of vehicles. A formulated blend of nylon 6,6 and polyphenylene oxide (PPO), known as Noryl GTX, also was introduced at the same time in those same Saturn vehicles by General Electric Plastics (now SABIC) using a special assembly line procedure (Figures 9 and 10). 

TPO(E) thermoplastic elastomer and EPDM synthetic rubber are often the elastomers of choice for exterior trim. TPO(E) modified with POE, POP, or EPDM for exterior apphcations such as trim, fascia, and rocker panels have improved ductility, toughness, impact resistance, and weather resistance. ... 

Gaskets, e.g., engine intake manifolds Hose, e.g., air delivery, fuel dehvery Oil filter components O-ring seals Rocker panels... 

Rocker Panels can be blow molded from a number of TPEs, including TEEE and TPU(E), bnt primarily nylons. 

Applications for hard RIM products are mainly large automotive parts, such as front and rear bumpers, and rocker panels (see Figure 1.135). The most frequently used materials are polyurethanes reinforced with milled short fibers, which are processed in the so-called RRIM process (Reinforced Reaction Injection Molding). The short fibers increase the stiffness and decrease the thermal expansion in the case of temperature changes. They are abrasive, therefore the molds are made from steel (in small series also aluminum). 

FIGURE 1.135 Mold for automotive rocker panel Length 2,300 mm, wall thickness 2 mm (Source Fa. Modell- Formenbau Wilhelm Funke GmbFI Co, Alfeld/Leine) (left) picture (right) cross section ... 

Hot melt sealants of the polyethylene type may be used in locations which are difficult to reach after assembly. A stick or rod of the sealant may be placed in a door or rocker panel at a convenient time during the assembly process. When the body is heated in the primer bake oven, the sealant melts and flows by gravity into the joint to be sealed. 

Rocker panels, wheelhouse and inner and outer panels, luggage compartment floor pans, bumper reinforcement, body structure inner reinforcements, floor pans... 

Paintable interior automotive components include hard trim parts, instrument panel skins, door panels, and airbag covers. Exterior components include bumper fascias, body side cladding, rocker panels, and vent grilles. The preferred substrate for these components has been thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs), a material with low flexural modulus and low surface energy. It is considerably difficult to promote paint adhesion to TPOs without the use of predominantly oxidative surface treatment techniques, such as flame or atmospheric plasmas, or a chemical adhesion promoter, to prepare the surface to accept and wet-out paint. 

Tor example rocker panel, cowl vent, rear panel, pickup truck box. 

Two-shot sandwich molding for rocker panel (TPE on ETP) starting in Europe. Two shot (side by side) is often used in fascia molding. 

Two-shot molding (also starting to be used in exterior trim, e.g., rocker panels in European models) ... 

Elastogran GmbH (BASF AG Group) Elastollan Applications Automotive body and rocker panels, technical moulding. PUR TPE... 

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