New Low Emission Polyurethane Systems from Huntsman
Huntsman has introduced the ACOUSTIFLEX® LE and RUBIFLEX® LE polyurethane product lines, which are low-emission MDI-based foam solutions for automobile interiors. These cutting-edge technologies enable worldwide automobile formulators and foam manufacturers to create high-performance polyurethane foams while lowering interior emissions to fulfill OEM regulations.
The automotive industry is continually progressing toward its sustainability targets, as it addresses consumer preferences and emerging regulations governing Vehicle Interior Air Quality emissions from interior components – including national laws in many countries, new international ISO standards or policies such as the Circular Cars Initiative EU policy action roadmap[1].
Huntsman has responded to the industry’s issue of lowering emissions of interior components by embedding sustainability into its product lines with low emission (LE) forward-looking technology. Manufacturers and drivers will benefit from cleaner, lighter, and more circular PU technologies that provide superior comfort.
The portfolio of ACOUSTIFLEX® LE and RUBIFLEX® LE low-emission polyurethanes are the first fully commercialized technologies in the market. These products have been developed for automotive seating parts and sound insulation components. They are commonly used for making a wide range of standard automotive components, simplifying procurement and value chains for producers, who can reduce the different types of PU products they need to procure.
ACOUSTIFLEX® LE and RUBIFLEX® LE materials are now available, after testing at two European Huntsman technical centres and in independent evaluations by external laboratories. They are also at the final approval stage of several leading global OEMs and interior component producers.
Luc Van Essche, Technology Development Leader of Huntsman says that its new low-emission PU system is an innovation that brings benefits along the automotive value chain – to drivers, manufacturers, OEMs, and components producers. “We believe that our innovation contributes to a safer and cleaner environment for every person travelling inside a car.
Together with our business partners, we are contributing to transforming the transportation industry toward cleaner and safer mobility in a more carbon neutral and circular society. From a commercial perspective, this new system helps formulators and foam manufacturers do better business, delivering the required performance levels for their processing of polyurethane foams, while significantly lowering emissions to meet OEMs emission norms.”
Low-emission – high-performance
Global emission standards are imposing strict low emission limits on formaldehyde and acetaldehyde emissions. This means that several foam technologies that are currently used to make interior automotive parts may be phased out.
Equally, emission requirements for producing sound insulation are becoming more challenging. Current systems use a ‘fast cure’ production process, which generally results in increased emissions. With Huntsman’s new low-emission technology, manufacturers can make components that contribute to reduced interior emissions and still deliver performance identical to their currently used PU materials, and with no modification to their current production chains.
Testing and validating the new Huntsman system
Comprehensive test results confirm that the Huntsman system meets leading manufacturers’ emission targets. The low-emission and odour characteristics of flexible foams made from Huntsman’s novel system were validated using volatile organic compound chamber measurement, by accredited external testing institutes.
The evaluations confirm that these products can deliver consistent emission results and product performance levels that were not possible for past low-emission products. The mechanical and comfort performance of interior components made with ACOUSTIFLEX® LE and RUBIFLEX® LE low-emission polyurethanes are not compromised when compared to existing commercial systems.
These typical properties can vary depending on local circumstances and application and are not part of the specifications of ACOUSTIFLEX®.
[1] ISO 12219_1:2011 ‘Interior air of road vehicles – Part 1: Whole vehicle test chamber – Specification and method for the determination of volatile organic compounds in cabin interiors. The Circular Cars Initiative EU policy action roadmap.
