Title: Present and future aspects of interior materials for motor cars

Authors: T. Ikeda, H. Kimura

Addresses: Material Engineering Department, Passenger Car Engineering Center, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Okazaki-shi, Japan. ' Material Engineering Department, Passenger Car Engineering Center, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Okazaki-shi, Japan

Abstract: As consumer demands for more-individual designs and higher quality of cars are steadily growing, there arises an increasing need to improve the design, function and handling of interior materials for cars. This paper outlines the present condition and future prospect of the materials of interior parts for cars and their production methods. In the area of seats, there is a trend towards the use of softer, natural materials. Also, car seats are more often given antistatic electricity properties. In addition, the one-piece forming method is likely to be adopted to make car seats. As for the instrument panel, a softer feel is now preferred. The design of the panel is also becoming more sophisticated, with the use of electronics. Door-trim materials are tending towards those made by three-dimensional forming with cover material. Studies are also being actively conducted on those cover materials and their manufacturing methods which realise a better co-ordination with the instrument panel and seat surfaces.

Keywords: consumer demand; cover materials; interior materials; moulds; tactile properties; vehicle interiors; interior design; vehicle design; car seats; instrument panel; seat surfaces.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1989.061538

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1989 Vol.10 No.2, pp.227 - 240

Published online: 26 May 2014 *

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