Trends in Flexible Molded Polyurethane Foams in the Japanese Automobile Industry

THE JAPANESE AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES almost exclusively use molded polyurethane foam as automobile seats. Authors review the current hot cure molding technology which still holds approximately 70 percent of the automobile seating market. The recent emphasis on riding comfort has been accelerating the growth of HR molded foam. The discussion on the current technical trends follows. It is generally seen that HR molded foams are preferred for seat cushions, and hot molded foams are more economical for backrests. All MDI foam is not yet commercialized. However, it is being evaluated with interest since it offers a fast cure and some attractive characteristics as a seating material.