New solutions for more sustainable automotive trim parts
Blending durability and enhanced sustainability for the premium look and a memorable passenger experience
Automotive OEMs and their suppliers continue to seek material solutions that offer future-oriented and more sustainable properties, without compromising on performance or quality of interior trim parts. New solutions should also generate savings in processing costs.
Together with the designer Miika Heikkinen, material experts from various business entities within Covestro joined forces to combine innovative materials for new design possibilities that match automotive trends. The result was a door panel combining several functionalities.
“INSQIN® technology delivers a soft touch surface with the look and feel of natural leather at a lower cost, but without odor. In combination with Dispercoll® CQ U, it opens new design possibilities with a range of colors and dynamic transparent and translucent effects. And it does all this while reducing the overall carbon footprint of synthetic materials by up to 45%*.”
Reduced emissions and cost-effective applications for high-quality interiors
Thanks to our water-based INSQIN® polyurethane (PU) coating technology in combination with an adhesive based on Dispercoll® CQ U dispersions, we were able to create translucent optical properties, coating adhesion and deep color effects in door panel covers. These covers enable hidden or on-demand functionalities as well as special, varying lighting effects.
These two aqueous, low-VOC solutions were developed specifically to present cost-effective and more sustainable applications for the future requirements of car interiors.
Since no solvent has to be washed out after the application of the INSQIN® coating, automotive OEMs can save up to 95% water in contrast to substances produced on a solvent basis.As a vegan solution, the lower CO₂ emissions and the reduced energy consumption of INSQIN® can reduce the total CO₂ balance of synthetic material by up to 45% and at the same time offer a nearly odorless indoor air quality.*
Furthermore, our water-based polyurethane dispersions are also available based on renewable raw materials, thereby further reducing the CO₂ footprint of the respective coating or adhesive formulation. As a (near) drop-in solution, they can be easily integrated in existing formulations without disrupting the production process.
Formulations to improve the CO₂ balance and the more sustainable production of low VOC materials
The CO₂ balance can be further improved using Impranil® CQ DLU which consists of approximately 34 wt. % renewable carbon.*
For waterbased adhesives, we offer with our Dispercoll® CQ U grades as a drop-in solution with an alternative share of up to 85 wt. % on solids.*
The Impranil® and the Dispercoll® U product ranges with their high-performance, waterborne dispersions are an excellent choice for more sustainable processes, especially since they are well suited for the production of low VOC synthetic materials.
Another application for improving the CO₂ balance involves a partly bio-based waterborne soft-touch coating with up to 33% renewable carbon in the final formulation.
*according to internal calculations considering respective industry and certification standards
As a recognized global leader in design services, we strive to take a future-driven, holistic approach that meets tomorrow’s realities as well as placing end user needs at the heart of our designs. This concept door panel shows how material technologies can open up new future-oriented designs that are not only more sustainable but also bring added value for consumers by simplifying interiors to make them calmer and more purposeful, resulting in truly seamless journeys.
Key Benefits
- Low-VOC solutions: INSQIN® is cost-effective and can reduce water consumption by up to 95%.*
- Less energy needed: INSQIN® can reduce the total CO₂ balance of synthetic materials by up to 45%.*
- Design freedom: The combination of INSQIN® and Dispercoll® CQ U enables a wide range of translucent and transparent design effects for automotive interior trims.
- Alternative raw materials: Partially bio-based Impranil® CQ and bio-circular attributed Dispercoll® CQ U product ranges can further reduce the CO₂ footprint.*
