Sept. conference will show how polyurethane helps auto industry

The aim of the conference will be to help automotive manufacturers to improve vehicle performance, fuel economy and comfort, so customers are more eager to buy new cars.

The conference is hosted by the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry of the American Chemistry Council and it will take place Sept. 26-28 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Tennessee.

“Polyurethane use in transportation has been increasing for more than a decade,” said Lee Salamone, senior director of CPI. “Our industry is constantly innovating to help improve the many automotive applications of polyurethane, including lightweight parts that decrease auto weight and help increase fuel economy for cars and vehicles. During the conference, attendees will learn more about how new polyurethane developments are allowing the automotive industry to continually improve cars and meet consumers’ demands.”

There will be more than 60 technical presentations. This year’s agenda features a technical session with four papers on automotive-related topics as well as updates from members of the Molded Foam Industry Panel. These industry experts work to evolve automotive seating specifications. The four automotive topics are:

1. Researchers from BASF Corporation will begin the session with a discussion of new antioxidant systems that offer lower volatile organic compounds for flexible molded foam.

2. Scientists from Huntsman International will examine crosslinked thermoplastic polyurethane as automotive paint protection film.

3. Researchers from BASF Corporation, Dow, Huntsman International and The Woodbridge Group, who are members of the Molded Foam Industry Panel, will present an investigation of odor test methods for molded foam.

4. A discussion on the validity of polyurethane hysteresis loss as a viable prediction of long-term performance of automotive seating.
CPI will let companies at the conference showcase their products with tabletop exhibitions.

To register for the Polyurethanes 2011 Technical Conference, go to americanchemistry.com/polyurethane.

Hawke Fracassa covers the auto industry from Detroit. You can reach him at [email protected].

Image source of a high-pressure polyurethane dispense unit, courtesy Wikipedia