24-09-2016, 10:01 AM
1455978612-airbags.pdf (Size: 1.01 MB / Downloads: 3)
Fabrics/Yarns Used
While original yarns/fabrics used were variations of 840 denier
nylon 6.6, neoprene coated, today’s fabrics are primarily nylon 66,
lighter denier/dtex, lower dpf yarns, and silicone coated. Typical
yarns and constructions being used and evaluated are plain
weave:
210 denier/235 dtex, 72X72
315 denier/350 dtex, 60X60
420 denier/470 dtex, 49X49
525 denier/580 dtex, 43X44
630 denier/700 dtex, 41X41
Coatings
Neoprene was the original coating –
- available, cheap, adequate, familiar
Most new developments involve silicone.
- Low or no flammability (FMVSS302)
- Abrasion resistance
- Good flex
- Low gas permeability (<0.3 cfm)
- Thermal aging stability
- Low stiffness (for packing)
Coatings are used in:
Driver side – essentially 100%
Passenger side – Some
Side Impact – Most
Curtains – Most
What is driving the growth in airbags:
Federal regulation – first and foremost
Public awareness
General increase in concerns for safety
Development of rollover and side impact systems
Increased sophistication of systems
Competitive dynamics
World Trends to 2005
Front airbags will
- Fluctuate with the car production rates in WE, the USA, and
Japan
- Still grow in other area
Side airbags fueling growth
Head protection and roll-over protection will be fast growing
application
New systems are under development for such areas as knee, foot,
and headrest, even an external pedestrian system
World Trends to 2005
BUT:
Price reductions will be difficult to achieve as system becomes
more sophisticated
Further cost reductions will have to be based on innovation and
new development.
What’s Ahead?
Composites? Combinations of materials – nonwovens and film?
Use specific?
Lighter fabrics for packability and for use with “cold inflator”
technology and special areas?
New coating polymers?
Consolidation/Integration of supply chain?
New applications for air bags – but selective: side curtains,
rollover protection, others?
GLOBAL AIRBAG GROWTH FACTORS
Continued growth of side-impact and curtain applications in North America,
Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Developing airbag markets in South America, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia,
India and China.
Conversion to global platforms by the Big 6 vehicle manufacturers promotes
safety product usage -- airbags, pretensioners, occupant sensing systems and
anticipatory crash technologies.
Maturing supply base in developing areas, ready to produce airbags in mass
quantities, often licensing technologies or partnering with large airbag suppliers
(China is a prime example).
Technology maturation, growing consumer acceptance and lower prices will
push airbag utilization to near 100% in Japan and Western Europe.
Improved fabric technologies are decreasing cushion weight and increasing
“foldability”, new coating applications are a major contributor to this trend.