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(Plastics Today) -- Foams made
from polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and even biodegradable
polylactic acid (PLA) will play a key role in vehicle lightweighting moving
forward according to foam bead supplier and molder JSP Corp. (Tokyo, Japan). The
company sees potential for another 10 kg of foam use in addition to the 5-6 kg
that is estimates is currently used.
On show at the IPF show in Japan was a concept foam sandwich door, with
partially bio-derived unsaturated polyester (UP) resin covering both sides of an
expanded PLA foam. While the UP resin is currently glass fiber, theoretically
natural fiber could also be used as a reinforcing material according to Hidehiro
Sasaki, General Manager of the Development Department at JSP. The door weighs in
at 9 kg, including around 1 kg of PLA foam.
Prototype door module comprises unsaturated polyester sandwiching
polylactic acid (PLA) foam. Polycarbonate foam (orange tag) may join expanded
polypropylene (blue tags) in auto applications.
Rear seat bases represent a
substantial potential market for foamed plastics.
Expanded polystyrene finds use as a protective packaging material for
automotive components. Fellow IPF exhibitor Sekisui Chemical (Osaka, Japan) pegs
foam usage at 10 kg per vehicle for the OEMs that it serves. The company's
strategic product is a blend of PS foam and polyethylene foam, Piocelan, that
exhibits superior compression strength as compared to EPP foam and can be molded
on conventional EPS machines.
mrcplast.com
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