Adligenswil, Switzerland, September 2022 – Sekisui Alveo, European manufacturer of high-quality polyolefin foams, has developed translucent foams for use in automobile interiors. These special foams allow light to pass through soft trim elements such as the dashboard and door panels, displaying information or providing illumination. This new technology is driving a growing trend in interior design, particularly that of electric vehicles.

As automobiles increasingly take over more tasks for the driver, the focus on vehicle interiors is intensifying. More attention is being paid to how people interact with vehicles and how interiors can be optimized. Padded, soft surfaces remain the preferred choice, due to their look and feel, and now there is a trend towards making them multifunctional. Light sources are integrated behind the material, and the padded surface is designed to allow the light to pass through. Thus, door panels glow when the door is opened, e.g. for convenience lighting. The dashboard becomes part of the instrument panel, displaying indicator symbols for the driver, but in a new and impressively elegant way.

Enhanced user experience

This technology expands the potential of vehicle interiors to enhance the user experience. Business Unit Manager Andre Sigrist explains: “In cars, information has to be displayed and interaction has to be possible on an as-needed basis. People are used to interacting with smart phones and they would like to have smart surfaces in cars too. But at the same time, they want to have the same look-and-feel comfort they are used to in automobile interiors.”

Polyethylene foam solutions

The breakthrough in this new technology is translucent foam. Foams are typically opaque due to their cell structure and various components; however, they can be made translucent. Sekisui Alveo, the leading European foam producer known for innovation, has developed foams with a high degree of light transmittance that are suitable for automotive applications. These include the polyethylene foams TL LV and TLA LV, in white and natural. They are suitable for applications with low thermal requirements like door roll and door panels.

Translucent PP foams in development

Thermal requirements are higher for applications above the belt line. Here, PP foams are required. Sekisui Alveo is now developing PP foams with greatly improved translucent properties. This material presents a greater technical challenge, and Sekisui Alveo is mastering it with the development of new foams. Initial samples are available, and testing is ongoing at the company’s in-house Application Service Laboratory and at customers’ fabrication plants.

High-quality foams for automotive applications

Besides translucency, these foams must meet all the standard requirements of the automobile industry, e.g. for flame resistance, tensile strength, and emissions, and offer good converting properties like vacuum formability. Sekisui Alveo’s translucent foams are high-quality products that meet all these requirements. The mechanical properties and LV performance are similar to those of standard PP foams.

New era in automobile interior design

Designers of automobile interiors are excited about the new opportunities this technology offers. They can easily realise clean lines and an uncluttered look without compromising functionality. Elegance and understatement have never been easier to achieve. The multifunctional, active surfaces fit perfectly into the trend of cars becoming smarter, cleaner, and user friendlier.