You think my seats are made of leather
9 Oct 2001
The Dow Chemical Company has developed a fabric-free moulded polyurethane foam technology that can be used in various seating applications. Using Dow polymers, manufacturers can produce car seats and other interior parts, that look and feel as if they were covered with leather.
The technology uses an elastomeric layer over moulded foam: the elastomer takes the place of conventional materials like fabric or leather as the 'skin' of the upholstery, while the foam serves its traditional use as internal padding for comfort and durability.
This single step technology can be used in the production of car seats, office furniture and even stadium seating, making the seats easier to wash and repair. At the same time, the polyurethane elastomer offers both the comfort and 'breathability' of leather seats and provides a durable, soft-touch material for vehicle interior parts such as seating and headrests.
Dow has done extensive testing to determine the weatherability, reparability, comfort, durability, and other benefits of seating made with this technology. The results of this testing show that seating products made using Dow's fabric-free technology meet OEM specifications for seat coverings, and meet or exceed the performance of seat coverings manufactured using conventional seating materials. In addition, by eliminating the use of fabric, leather or vinyl, manufacturers will significantly reduce processing steps required to produce seats and seating parts.
Dow Automotive market manager Andrew Hogg sees great opportunities with this technology. 'In addition to the fabric free seat showing considerable scope for cost savings, the all-polyurethane construction gives the moulder the potential to replace conventional coverstocks, which is a key target for most OEM's.'
According to Dow, the technology also offers environmental benefits. 'The finished seat is simpler to recycle at the end of its useful life, since it is made entirely from polyurethane foam,' says Steven English, Business Development Director for Dow's flexible polyurethanes business.
