Covestro will be exhibiting for the first time at the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) from October 18 to 20 in Wolfsburg, Germany. The event has evolved in just a few years into one of the leading international supplier shows for the automotive industry, representing the entire value chain. Covestro’s exhibit centers on applications in the automotive interior.
The company has long been committed to developing lightweight material solutions based on the high-performance plastics polycarbonate and polyurethane. They reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while at the same time offering design freedom, and they can be processed economically into functional components. At IZB, Covestro will be showcasing examples of its innovative and sustainable developments.
Car buyers increasingly want a personalized vehicle interior with a premium feel and appealing design. On the other hand, the automotive industry wants to be able to manufacture components as cost-effectively as possible with high productivity. Both of these trends prompted Covestro to develop its DirectCoating/DirectSkinning technology, which combines design and efficiency.
Steering wheel cover demonstrates the variety of decorative options
The latest development is a steering wheel cover fabricated by the DirectCoating method. It illustrates a number of options that PU coatings offer for designing component surfaces, including metallic effects and fine-grain textures with sharp transitions between matte and glossy areas. With this two-stage process, coated components with any number of different designs can be produced economically and efficiently.
Another option for the low-cost production of decorative interior parts is an injection molding process with dynamic temperature control, which is combined with physical foaming. By combing both processes, components with reduced weight and excellent surface quality can be manufactured – despite foaming. This technology was used to fabricate glove compartment covers made from Bayblend®, Covestro’s blend of polycarbonate and ABS. The surface features both high-gloss and textured regions. Here, too, manufacturers can dispense with a separate coating step.
New film concepts for automotive interiors
Covestro is also presenting a broad range of film products for automotive interiors at IZB. They are durable, offer extensive design freedom, support the integration of various functions and can be processed cost-efficiently.
One key topic at present is matte films with scratch-resistant coatings that can be formed three-dimensionally. They are Covestro’s response to the trend towards matte, anti-glare surfaces. The product line is further enhanced by anti-glare films for integrated automotive displays.
Thin thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films are very well suited for use in automotive interiors, e.g. for fabricating sound-attenuating components and embedding lighting elements or sensors.
