New Automotive Applications: Center Stack, Defroster Panels and Console Retainers

DYLARK resins continue to be the preferred material for soft-feel (skin and foam) instrument panel assemblies because of their outstanding balance of properties. However, DYLARK resins are also used in other automotive interior applications, providing cost and mass reduction, increased integration and improved performance over other plastic materials.

In many cases, a one-piece DYLARK part can directly replace a multi-part steel assembly, thereby reducing cost and mass. An example of this is a plastic structural center stack. The structural DYLARK center stack was designed for a 2005MY program to replace an 8-piece steel sub-assembly. The DYLARK part is approximately two pounds lighter and reduces tooling costs by $200,000 compared to the steel sub-assembly. DYLARK center stacks and radio buckets are available on numerous vehicles in the global marketplace today.

DYLARK parts also replace multi-piece steel sub-assemblies for door armrest brackets, module brackets, interior grab handles and cluster support brackets.

DYLARK resins are also specified for painted defroster panels (often referred to as top covers,forward extension panels or valence panels). There are minimal or in no impact requirements for this type of application, yet the materials used are often high-impact with moderate to high-heat performance characteristics. DYLARK resins are a lower cost material solution compared to the current high-impact materials specified for defroster panel applications. Since DYLARK resins display high modulus, utilizing the resins for a defroster panel saves costs by reducing the amount of required attachments while delivering equal or better NVH and dimensional performance.

Overhead and floor console retainers are two additional applications that benefit from the performance attributes of DYLARK resins. As OEM’s continue to increase the amount of “content” in these types of interior applications (i.e. DVD players, telecommunication equipment and climate controls), there is a growing need for increased structural rigidity. Specifying DYLARK resins for overhead and floor console retainers is an excellent way to meet the structure and performance requirements of these applications. DYLARK resins provide significant advantages over steel brackets with design optimization available through computer-aided engineering. In addition, DYLARK resins continue to exhibit an excellent balance of thermal properties and high stiffness-to-weight ratio. DYLARK resins in solid or foam molded consoles exhibit high temperature resistance, withstanding extreme conditions from Arizona to Alaska.

For more information about DYLARK, please e-mail: DYLARKdriven@novachem.com

>> COMING SOON: www.DYLARK.com <<