Delivering superior surface aesthetics solutions for the automotive industry
Surface aesthetics solutions
© Borealis
Borealis and Borouge, leading providers of innovative, value-creating plastics solutions, have developed material concepts to address specific challenges facing the automotive industry as it enters a new era. Issues of global significance such as reducing energy consumption and manufacturing costs, adapting to increasing urbanisation and automobile density and accommodating the needs of emerging growth markets all call for innovative and sustainable solutions. At K 2013, Borealis will spotlight its newest product innovations in surface aesthetics for automotive interiors and exteriors. These material solutions will not only enable manufacturers to achieve defect-free surfaces, but also help them capitalise on the benefits of reduced costs, environmental impact and optimised production cycle times.
One major automotive megatrend involves manufacturing and ongoing efforts to improve productivity while reducing production costs. Thanks to recent product innovations in primerless paintability – where two new grades for exteriors are currently in the pipeline – and tiger stripe-free surface aesthetics, Borealis is helping manufacturers significantly improve processability, reduce system costs and enhance environmental compatibility and sustainability.
"These automotive megatrends have had, and will continue to have, a huge impact on the industry. They will require new ways of thinking and collaborating,” states Jost Eric Laumeyer, Borealis Global Marketing Manager Engineering Applications. “Borealis and Borouge are committed to helping our global customers succeed in all their markets, and thanks to fruitful collaboration with partners around the world we can already report numerous success stories in the automotive industry, such as innovative product solutions in surface aesthetics, which are helping original equipment manufacturers meet tomorrow's challenges."
Borealis to showcase new tiger stripe-free grades at K 2013
Tiger stripes are flow mark issues caused by converting processes which can lead to both exterior and interior surface defects. This phenomenon is a general problem affecting all thermoplastic materials, including polyolefins. Through extensive laboratory research and joint testing with partners, Borealis has developed a new polypropylene (PP) matrix used in compounds, which will help avoid tiger stripes within a very broad processing window. The two new Daplen™ tiger stripe-free grades EE058AI and EG107HP for automotive interiors and exteriors being launched in autumn of 2013 are based on the unique Borealis Borstar® process, thus ensuring global availability. Offering reduced density with an established material portfolio, the grades boast comparable or improved performance in processing behaviour, flexural modulus, tensile stress at yield, charpy impact strength[1] notched (at both +23° C and -20° C) and mould shrinkage according to the Borealis method.
To address tiger stripes in interior automotive surfaces, Borealis has upgraded two currently available solutions with the tiger stripe-free technology: EE189HP, a 15% mineral filled PP compound intended for injection moulding and commonly used for dashboards and door panels, and EE288HP, another thermoplastic olefin (TPO) used for instrument panels and other applications. Furthermore, Daplen EE188AIB, a grade specially developed in Brazil in cooperation with a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and manufactured at Borealis Brazil's expanded Itatiba plant, is a PP compound intended for use in dashboards and consoles. It offers good impact and stiffness balance, good processability, high scratch resistance and no stickiness following exposure to the elements.
Another important Borealis grade launch for exteriors is Daplen moulded in colour EF150HP, successor to one of the first breakthrough moulded in colour solutions for body panels, ED230HP. Moulded in colour solutions make cost reductions possible by eliminating the number of painting cycles required. The new grade boasts more than double the previous flowability (from melt flow rate (MFR) 10 to 22) for improved processing, significant density reduction yet increased stiffness, significant potential wall thickness reductions of between 18%-25% for the average part, stable shrinkage and coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) to support narrow gap demands, excellent dimensional stability for design freedom and moulded in colour solutions with accompanying electrostatic painting processes. These advantages make it possible for OEMs to achieve superior aesthetic appeal while maintaining the highest material standards.
Borealis will highlight its cutting-edge tiger stripe-free grades and other surface aesthetics innovations at the K 2013 trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, Hall 6, Stand A43, from October 16-23, 2013.
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For further information please contact:
Virginia Mesicek, External Communications Manager
Tel. +43 (0)1 22 400 772 (Vienna, Austria)
e-mail: virginia.mesicek@borealisgroup.com
