The company’s PPc F9005, PPc F9007 and PPc F9015 are suitable for automotive interior parts with complex geometries, such as door panels and trim, seat and trunk cladding, A/B/C/D pillar covers and center consoles. Compared to solid components, foamed parts made with Sabic PP compounds offer weight savings that can help cut emissions, according to Sabic.
Previously, the FIM process was limited to non-visible parts, restricting its usefulness in automotive applications, the company said.
“The automotive industry continues to look for new weight-out strategies that can advance energy efficiency and sustainability goals,” said Abdullah Al-Otaibi, general manager, Sabic. “Although foam injection molding produces desirable lightweight parts, manufacturers have been forced to sacrifice aesthetics, until now. We applied our extensive expertise in foaming technology to develop these new compounds to help resolve the issue of surface quality and open new application opportunities for foamed parts.”