Chinese auto supplier advances elastomer PU skin part

Ludwigshafen, Germany – Green & Light Automotive Components has developed a car-boot ‘loading floor’ featuring an innovative elastomeric polyurethane (PU) skin technology.

To develop the cleanable surface skin, the Suzhou, China-based company employed a paper honeycomb and an Elastoskin branded PU from BASF.

A foam material, from the same supplier, is incorporated into the structure to reduce weight by 20-30% compared to conventional materials.

The honeycomb structure, enclosed by two fibre-glass mats, is foamed and pressed using BASF’s Elastoflex E semi-rigid PU foam.

The flooring material is easier to clean than conventional nonwoven surfaces and shows good aging and emission properties, said a 20 Feb BASF release.

The PU skin, it added, bonds directly to the loading floor, thereby eliminating a glueing stage required with nonwoven-fabric parts.

Green & Light Automotive Components is now producing the honeycomb components at its plant in Suzhou, near Shanghai.

The finished components are being delivered to car manufacturers and suppliers worldwide, according to the BASF statement.