Chemical company Huntsman has launched a new range of low-emission MDI-based foam systems for automotive interiors: the Acoustiflex LE and Rubiflex LE polyurethane product lines.
The company says these will enable manufacturers to produce high-performance polyurethane foams, while significantly reducing interior emissions levels to meet OEM requirements.
The automotive industry is continually moving 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.
The two materials are now available following testing at two European Huntsman technical centers 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, said that that 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 traveling inside a car,” he said. “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.”
