Essentially Rubber: Animal-free drive
3 Apr 2024
Leading-edge designs and applications showing how elastomer materials...
Leading-edge designs and applications showing how elastomer materials contribute to all aspects of life and lifestyle in the 21st century:
Dow Inc. has developed a polyolefin elastomers (POE)-based artificial leather for automotive applications to response to the industry’s move to increasingly animal-free products.
The elastomer has been commercialised by Dow’s Chinese partner HIUV Materials Technology and qualified by an (unnamed) electric car manufacturer in seatings application.
The product offers an “ultra-soft tactility” with better colour stability compared to leather, enabling designers with more flexibility on the choice of colour, especially light colours.
It is also said to offer "good aging and low temperature resistance", while eliminating of hazardous chemicals, plasticisers, and heavy-metals materials.
According to a Dow release, the POE-based material is also up to 40% lighter PVC leather due to lower density.
Beyond automotive, it said, the POE option can be used in other applications including sporting goods, furniture, and fashion and accessories.
Image source: Dow website
