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Introduction
The use of plastics in vehicles is constantly rising due to their superior strength to weight advantage and cost savings over other materials. Plasticized PVC materials are used in automotive applications because they satisfactorily meet these requirements.
Vehicles encounter driving environments during their lifetime that can range from extreme heat to sub-zero weather. Therefore plasticized PVC parts must meet numerous performance requirements to withstand extreme conditions and still provide an attractive price incentive. Jayflex plasticizers help automotive manufacturers by providing plasticizers with characteristics that meet these requirements for both interior and exterior applications.
Common Automotive Applications that Use Jayflex Plasticizers:
- Trim and Molding
- Sealants and Mastics
- Electrical Wire Insulation
- Underbody Coating
- Truck Tarpaulins
- Floor Mats
- Adhesives
- Seat Upholstery
- Instrument Panels
- Sound Deadening Panels
- Grommets and Gasketing
Performance Requirements (see also Technical Information)
Plasticized PVC used in automotive applications must meet strict performance criteria in conjunction with optimizing cost and processibility. Requirements include resistance to fogging (volatilized plasticizer that has condensed on the surface of a window), impact resistance, low temperature flexibility, and the "hand" or feel of the finished vinyl product. Evidence of products not meeting these requirements are hazy windows, cracked dashboards, cold weather cracking of seat covers, and slick/sticky armrests or seat covers.
Product performance in these areas depends heavily on the plasticizer employed, requiring the manufacturer to understand each plasticizer's performance characteristics and combined effect in the finished product. Jayflex plasticizers have been developed to meet these and other performance requirements for the automotive industry.
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