Novel Polycarbonate/ABS Blends for Instrument Panel Applications

Several new Polycarbonate/ABS blends have been developed for use in automotive instrument panel applications. Combinations of excellent impact toughness both in room and cold temperature environments, high heat distortion and high modulus meet various industry requirements. Previously, parts produced with commercial PC/ABS blend systems had resulted in parts demonstrating highly anisotropic behavior and poor weldline strength. This paper describes performance testing of actual instrument panel parts and property/morphology relationships of new technology systems being commercially introduced into the market. Discussion will include data on blends which exhibit ductile failure mode at low temperature as well as, high modulus glass-filled blend systems.