Softell textile by LyondellBasell for injection-molded automotive interior parts
One of the largest global chemicals and plastics producers, LyondellBasell, has just announced the addition of a new polypropylene compound named Softell Textile to the company’s comprehensive portfolio for automotive interior. Parts injection molded from new the PP product offer a textile-like finish, treasured by today’s material designers and engineers in the automotive.
Business Development manager of LyondellBasell for PP compounds in Europe, Erik Licht, says, “By achieving this surface quality in one production step without using other materials, Softell Textile is […] a new solution in interior automotive applications. The new product has the potential to replace an expensive alternative currently used that applies real fabric on polymer components to achieve the desired surface finish effect.”
Softell Textile boasts scratch resistance, high impact strength and low gloss, coupled with pleasant touch and feel. Several customers are currently qualifying the new PP compound for upcoming car models and reporting that they are happy with the increased cost-efficiency of the components and reduced reject rates, compared to applying textile fabrics on technical resins.
Softell Textile is part of LyondellBasell Softell polypropylene compound range that offers outstanding appearance, touch and feel. The use of these innovative soft touch materials in car interior applications is more and more wide; these include door panels, dashboards and the like. Compared to alternative car interior solutions (e.g. painted ABS), Softell PP products boast extra advantages: quality design potential and exceptional processability. Top quality finishes are now possible with no painting or coating involved. This makes the parts more suitable for recycling, coupled with lower processing costs. Structure-wise, finished parts manufactured using Softell compounds are free from chips and sharp edges when exposed to crash tests at any temperature, even when cold. Thus, cost-efficient lightweight door panels as well as any car interior components can now be produced with no reservations as for part performance.
