SABIC showcases specialty materials, technical capabilities for application innovation at automotive interiors expo

SABIC, a global chemical industry leader, is showcasing here at Automotive Interiors Expo 2019 (Booth #A118) its extensive portfolio of advanced materials, technical customer support services and other world-class resources for the development of leading-edge automotive interior applications. These include the company’s fast-growing family of LNP™ specialty compounds, high-performance NORYL™ polyphenylene ether (PPE)-based resins and ULTEM™ polyetherimide (PEI) resins; its state-of-the-art Global Application Technology (GApT) centers across the globe; and its ColorXpress custom color services and deep bench of material technology experts. SABIC is also introducing here two new, paintable, low-gloss LNP LUBRICOMP™ compounds that help reduce buzz, squeak and rattle (BSR) noises in vehicle interiors Read more. 

Details about the new LNP LUBRICOMP compounds will be covered in a presentation by Ed Williams, senior product manager for LNP, on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 4:10 p.m. EDT. Williams will discuss the BSR mechanism of action and compare internal lubrication to traditional approaches, documented with test data on wear factor, coefficient of friction and slip-stick performance. SABIC’s Specialties business has a long history of developing new LNP compounds that address wear and friction issues for demanding automotive interior applications. Mitigation of BSR in automotive interiors has become increasingly important as ultra-quiet electric and hybrid cars make cabin noise especially noticeable.

“Designing the quiet, comfortable and stylish vehicle interiors that consumers demand requires versatile materials that precisely combine functionality with aesthetics,” said Jay Whalen, senior business manager, LNP, SABIC’s Specialties business. “SABIC’s high-performance specialty materials can address consumer preferences with the latest surface finishes and molded-in colors, such as low gloss and piano black effects. As megatrends like electric, autonomous and shared vehicles continue to gain traction worldwide and create new requirements for interior parts, SABIC will work together with our customers to develop specialty resins and compounds that can meet and surpass industry expectations.”
 
At its booth, SABIC is displaying several parts that highlight the capabilities of its internally lubricated LNP LUBRICOMP and LNP LUBRILOY™ compounds in reducing BSR, friction and wear. These include:

• Tambour door slide rail cup holder made from an LNP LUBRICOMP compound based on NORYL poly (p-phenylene oxide) (PPO) resin, which demonstrates a potential reduction of friction between mating surfaces and better functional consistency.
  
• Radio bezel/button guide made with LNP LUBRICOMP compound based on a polycarbonate/ acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) resin blend, which showcases the ability to potentially eliminate external lubricants and padding.

Specialty Materials

SABIC’s Specialties portfolio is comprised of LNP compounds and copolymers with a range of integrated functionality, including self-lubrication, high strength, flame retardance, electrical and thermal conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. In automotive interior, under-the-hood and exterior applications, LNP technologies have been developed specifically for components such as electronic housings, gears and pulleys, fuel system and transmissions components, seating mechanisms, instrument panels, headlamp bezels and mirror brackets.

The portfolio also includes NORYL resins for automotive exterior and structural applications such as rear spoilers, tank flaps, door handles, wheel covers, floor rockers and body-in-white (BIW), and ULTEM resins for high-heat applications in automotive under-the-hood applications such as throttle bodies, fuel filters, fuses, sensors and cylinder deactivation valves.

Advanced Technology Centers

SABIC operates GapT centers around the world where scientists and technical experts use the latest methodologies and equipment to solve customer challenges. The Polymer Processing Development Center in Pittsfield, Mass., in the United States, offers a wide range of application development and processing resources for automotive interior parts. These include aesthetics and design, predictive engineering, process development and application performance testing.

Custom Color Services

Colors and effects used in plastic components are important to enhance the styling of automotive interiors. SABIC’s ColorXpress services can make it easier and fast for customers to select from thousands of existing colors or obtain a precise color match for branding or aesthetics. At the company’s global Color Innovation Center in Selkirk, N.Y., customers can work with on-site colorists to create custom colors and apply special effects in as little as a day.  In addition to a wide array of colors, SABIC offers several special effects for LNP compounds: metallic, illuminate, diffusion and diamond. 

SABIC’s deep expertise in the mobility sector also includes material solutions for advanced driver assistance systems (ADASs), such as LiDAR. To demonstrate the capabilities of ULTEM resin for optical LiDAR components, SABIC is exhibiting an opaque black lens cover that blocks visible light to avoid interference but is transparent to infrared (IR) light emitted by LiDAR systems. 

Automotive Interiors Expo 2019 runs from October 22 to 24 in Novi, Mich. SABIC management and technical experts are available throughout the show to answer questions and discuss the company’s growing portfolio of specialty compounds and the company’s technical capabilities.