Mexican Media Brands
Published
Achieving Piano Black
“Direct coating is a promising solution for a wide variety of decorative and functional automotive trim components.”
Share
The people at Steinway should have probably patented the term, because when it comes to interiors, “piano black” is becoming the trim of choice, and it also is finding an increased number of exterior applications, as well. However, it seems that achieving that dark, shiny surface is somewhat challenging using the conventional three-layer coating process.
Engineers at Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) worked with those from materials company Covestro (covestro.us) on using what’s known as “direct coating,” a new process that combines conventional thermoplastic injection molding with reaction injection molding (RIM) in a single tool such that a hard polycarbonate blend substrate with an ultraviolet-stabilized, scratch- and chemical-resistant polyurethane coating—with the piano black surface—is achieved.
According to Amanda Nummy, materials engineer, HATCI, “Direct coating is a promising solution for a wide variety of decorative and functional automotive trim components.”
The prototype arts they produced were made with a Covestro PC+ABS blend and commercially available aliphatic polyurethane coating raw materials.
Reportedly, advantages of the direct coating approach include cost reduction and the elimination of a need for painting.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Increasing Use of Structural Adhesives in Automotive
Can you glue a car together? Frank Billotto of DuPont Transportation & Industrial discusses the major role structural adhesives can play in vehicle assembly.
-
TRW Multi-Axis Acceleration Sensors Developed
Admittedly, this appears to be nothing more than a plastic molded part with an inserted bolt-shaped metal component.
-
on lots of electric trucks. . .Grand Highlander. . .atomically analyzing additive. . .geometric designs. . .Dodge Hornet. . .
EVs slowdown. . .Ram’s latest in electricity. . .the Grand Highlander is. . .additive at the atomic level. . .advanced—and retro—designs. . .the Dodge Hornet. . .Rimac in reverse. . .
