A New Generation of Polyurea Chemistry for Automotive Applications

The advantages of reaction injection molded (RIM) polyureas in automotive exterior parts are well known. In addition to their excellent mechanical performance, the outstanding thermal properties of polyureas makes them top candidates for integrated processes to produce automotive exterior parts. Any serious candidate for that application must have excellent surface quality and has to be produced in a reliable manufacturing process with minimum scrap rates and short cycle times to be cost effective. Polyurea systems available at the present time are a compromise between property performance and processability. ICI, through novel proprietary technologies has developed a new family of polyurea systems for fascia and body panel applications having excellent processability and thermal/mechanical properties that are equal to or better than those of other polyureas currently available. These materials can be processed at mold temperatures below 200°F and they display gel times as long as 2 seconds. The full advantages of polyurea systems can now be realized by processors with conventional RIM equipment. It also enhances the capabilities of the high performance equipment now available to the RIM processor. This breakthrough in polyurea technology is accomplished through the development of new isocyanate prepolymers, and the use of a patented chemistry based on Imino-functional materials.