Two trends at opposite ends of the automotive market are pushing development of polycarbonate (PC) plastic windows as a replacement for traditional glass in some situations. For expensive, niche, speciality vehicles, designers are taking advantage of the plastic’s ability to create complex shapes that would be nearly impossible with glass. And in the mass market, the demand for lower vehicle weights at a time when window openings are getting larger, has made glass a target for weight watchers.
David Loren, glazing segment manager for polycarbonates at Covestro LLC spoke with Today’s Motor Vehicles about advanced composites technologies and the potential impact PC glazing will have on vehicle designs in the near future.
Today’s Motor Vehicles (TMV) : Glass is a proven technology in automotive. How can new materials compete?
David Loren (DL): It’s an exciting time in automotive, where automakers are faced with new challenges – lightweighting, efficiency, corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) regulations, efficiency – but at the same time, they have to make vehicles that consumers want.
It’s not just about lightweighting, and it’s not just about styling. Where you truly hit a homerun is when you can combine the two. Right now, everything’s on the table for the companies. They’re more open to considering new technologies and materials than ever before.
TMV: What are some PC material uses showing up in vehicles today?
DL: We’re having a lot of success with aesthetic offerings, appliques on roofs, side trims, and other types of components. We can lower weight and offer more design freedom in PC compared to painted metal.
With appliques, particularly on the roof, it offers a shiny, glass-like appearance that extends the visual look of glass. It draws windows and windscreens into the vehicle exterior and gives the side of a vehicle a rich, luxurious look.
The trick is to deliver an optimized PC material that can give a rich, consistent, homogeneous, color – maintaining high lot-to-lot consistency and improved productivity from carefully controlled viscosity.
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From the August/September 2017 issue of Today’s Motor Vehicles.