Exterior appliques are used as filler and trim pieces on the B and C pillars of passenger cars and light trucks. Once manufactured of painted-die-cast metal, exterior appliques have now evolved from painted plastic to silicone hardcoated polycarbonate. The new polycarbonate/silicone system offers integrally colored, hardcoated appliques with higher gloss and depth of image (DOI) than painted and nonpainted systems, and the silicone hardcoat boosts the scratch- and weather-resistance properties of the applique. The high impact resistance of the polycarbonate offers 30-60 % lighter weight and greater durability vs. metal. From a manufacturing standpoint, production of hardcoated appliques involves fewer steps and is easily automated. Transfer efficiency of the silicone is about 90 %, and warehousing and mixing are simplified vs. painting. This paper will discuss a variety of functional testing methods to ensure performance of the new substrate and coating vs. current production alternatives of metal or painted plastic.
Silicone-hardcoated polycarbonate exterior appliques
Silikonhartbeschichtete Polykarbonat-Außenapplikationen
SAE Technical Papers ; 1-4
1995
4 Seiten, 6 Bilder, 3 Tabellen, 4 Quellen
Conference paper
English
Silicone-hardcoated polycarbonate exterior appliques
Automotive engineering | 1995
|British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995
|Silicone-Hardcoated Polycarbonate Exterior Appliques
SAE Technical Papers | 1995
|Silicone-Hardcoated Polycarbonate Exterior Appliques
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995
|