Ductility of TPE materials1 at extreme cold temperatures is highly desired for automotive airbag door applications. Simultaneously, higher flow properties and better processibility of TPE materials is of great importance since it reduces the cycle time and provides better cosmetic appearance.Higher performance TPE materials should have both of the following properties; ductility at extreme cold temperatures and best cosmetic appearance.
It is also true that global automotive markets require molded-incolor TPE materials for airbag door cover applications that are cost effective, easy to process, recyclable and good deployment performance as compared to current non-paintable materials such as thermoplastic Polyether Ester block copolymers2.
Autoliv has been actively engaged in the development of high performance TPE materials for automotive safety restraint system component applications. Autoliv North America evaluated several TPE materials including Teknor Apex Company's Tekron TK- 5600K molded in color material for driver airbag door applications.