HEXPOL TPE target automotive interiors
At this year’s Fakuma exhibition HEXPOL TPE will present a portfolio of Thermoplastic Elastomers optimised for automotive interior applications. In Hall B1 : Booth 1217, the international TPE compounder will highlight new technologies to address emerging automotive trends, particularly with regards to sustainability and vehicle interior air-quality.
The plastics industry is seeing growing calls for transparency about the materials used in its products. Consumers are becoming more conscious of the origins and sustainability of products, as well as their chemical composition and any potential toxicity. One way in which this is influencing the automotive market is through stricter requirements regarding air quality in the vehicle interior.
In a move to improve passenger comfort, legislation regarding odour, fogging and VOC/FOG emissions has increased in recent years, OEMs such as Daimler and VW have also tightened limits. Several countries regulate the maximum allowed concentration of substances which can be hazardous to health, such as formaldehyde, benzene and nitrosamines (for example the Chinese standard GB/T27630).
At Fakuma, HEXPOL TPE will present Dryflex Interior, a series of thermoplastic elastomer compounds which are optimised for low emissions. The new TPEs offer on average a 75% emission reduction compared to other TPEs for interior applications on the market. They display low odour with results 2.0 to 3.0 in standards such as VDA 270. According to gravimetric fogging standard ISO 6452 they achieve condensate < 1.0 mg and achieve VOC results from 60 to 120 µg/g and Fog from 200 to 600 µg/g.
Dryflex Interior TPEs have passed additional interior tests for lightfastness, flammability and mechanical performance. Currently available in hardness’ between 25 and 85 Shore A, they offer efficient processing and the possibility of finely structured surfaces or complex geometry in the part design. They are available in customer specific colours as well as black and natural.
Emissions Testing
Market Minimun Expectation | Previous Generation TPEs | DryFlex Interior TPEs | |
|---|---|---|---|
Gravimetric Fogging ISO 6452 /DIN 75201-B | ≤ 2.0 mg | 1.0 – 2.0 mg | 0.3 – 0.7 mg |
Theromodesorption (VOC) VDA 278 | ≤ 500 µg/g | 100 – 400 µg/g | 60 – 120 µg/g |
Theromodesorption (FOG) VDA 278 | ≤ 1500 µg/g | 2000 – 3000 µg/g | 200 – 600 µg/g |
Odour VDA 270, B3 | ≤ 3.0 | 3.5 – 4.0 | 2.0 – 3.0 |
We’re seeing year on year growth in sales to automotive, in particular for interior applications where TPEs are widely used to add design features or functional performance benefits. We believe Dryflex Interior are the best performing TPEs available in the market for VOC and FOG emissions, they allow customers to surpass standards set by OEMs and legislation and prepare for even stricter limits in the future.
HEXPOL TPE is also answering the demand for more sustainable materials which fulfil automotive requirements with the expansion of the Dryflex Green range of Biobased TPE compounds. These TPEs incorporate a high amount of raw materials based on renewable resources such as sugarcane. Depending on the hardness of the TPE, a renewable share of over 90% is possible. Properties and processability are similar to regular fossil-based TPE compounds. Dryflex Green TPEs with low emission values will be presented at Fakuma, for example a 65 Shore A compound with a renewable content of 40 % showed a very low amount of VOC (82 µg/g) and Fog (142 µg/g) in the thermodesorption test according to VDA 278.
Dryflex TPEs for automotive interiors can be used in applications such as inlay mats in the dashboard, door, middle console or glove box. They are also well suited for thumb wheels, switches, cup holder liners, interior trim and HVAC components.
About HEXPOL TPE
HEXPOL TPE is a global polymer compounding group specialising in Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) for key industries such as consumer, medical, packaging, automotive and construction. Driven by a core belief in being the easiest company to do business with, HEXPOL TPE is dedicated to delivering a trusted combination of application know-how, R&D, production capabilities and comprehensive technical services. As part of the HEXPOL group of companies, we share an extensive global footprint covering EU, Asia-Pacific and North America, enabling us to support our customers worldwide.
