March 21, 2007

ABS+PA blends for car interior parts with a matt finish

Many plastic parts for car interiors like radio and loudspeaker recess covers are given a thin surface coating to produce a matt finish. The application of the finish is a complicated and expensive process step. To solve the problem, Lustran Polymers has now come up with new blends of polyamide and ABS under the name Triax® that yield injection-molded parts with a high-grade matt finish and therefore obviate the need to apply a subsequent surface coating.

“Triax® is a particularly economical alternative to blends of polycarbonate and ABS for this application segment,” says Gerald Pfeifer, Key Account Manager in the Lustran Polymers business unit.

One current example of an application of Triax® KU 2-3050 is a large instrument housing. “The specifications made on the optical quality of this part were particularly high because it is a very eye-catching design element and is directly in the line of view of the occupants,” explains Pfeifer. The anthracite-colored component is produced by systems supplier Intier Automotive Interiors Ltd., which is part of Magna International and is based in Redditch, UK. It assembles cockpit modules for the MINI.

Triax® KU 2-3050 has outstanding light stability, which means that parts made from it retain their stylish appearance permanently. The high quality of the matt finish is attributable to the product’s outstanding flow properties, allowing the number of weld lines to be kept to a minimum. In addition, there is very little difference between the melt pressure near the gate and away from the gate of the injection molding tool. For this reason there are no fluctuations in the mattness at the weld lines that could impair the appearance.

Other strengths of the blend material include its good resistance to chemicals typically found in car interiors, and its high impact strength, which has a positive effect on occupant protection in the event of a crash.