- Graphene nanotubes being introduced into polyurethane facilitates an anti-dust effect for artificial leather car seats.
- New solution favors replacement of expensive and hard-to-maintain genuine leather with a better performing, more durable synthetic material.
- These advancements result in improved interior comfort and increased security.
The use of artificial leather in automotive interiors is increasing dramatically. The reason is in its outstanding properties: easy to clean, durable, strong, able to adopt a range of colors. However, its insulative properties result in the accumulation of static electricity generated by friction between clothing and seats. In addition to causing discomfort, this can increase dust accumulation, which begins from the moment the car is built, through its transportation, installation and finally use. Usually, a routine of regular cleaning with an anti-static spray is followed. However, OEM manufacturers are always on the lookout for ways to improve interior comfort without additional expense or processes. Besides this, the need for anti-static and highly conductive properties in artificial leather becomes more significant considering the growing car industry trend of developing driver and passenger monitoring systems that rely on sensors.
To prevent static accumulation, anti-static materials should be added to artificial leather. Autostop Interiors, a leader in the production of seat covers and accessory parts in Europe, has developed artificial leather seat covers modified with OCSiAl’s TUBALL™ graphene nanotubes, also known as single wall carbon nanotubes. This advanced anti-static material grants permanent electrical conductivity to the seat covers, while preserving mechanical properties.
“The solution enhances synthetic leather seat cover qualities with an additional property that protects them from undesired static accumulation on the surface, repels dust, and upholds a vehicle interior’s clean appearance without regular laborious cleaning,” said Sofia Filipponi, Head of R&D, Autostop Interiors.
Even an extremely low dosage of graphene nanotubes facilitates targeted electrical resistivity of 107–109 Ω/sq in material surface. The nanotube solution allows OEMs to add anti-static properties to seat covers without changing standard production process and to increase cost efficiency thanks to its superior price-per-physical property in comparison with other additives.
The rapid development of the use of nanotubes in industrial leather applications was previously limited by processing considerations. Developed by OCSiAl, the ready-to-use solution in the form of concentrates and suspensions has significantly simplified handling, allowing producers to use standard equipment and retain original formulations.
The solution enables the automotive interior industry to use an innovative material that contributes to sustainable development without compromising performance. The use of graphene nanotubes in artificial leather seats unlocks additional opportunities for manufacturers in the context of growing interest in sensor-based monitoring systems, enhancing safety, and sensor efficiency.
Beyond this, solutions based on graphene nanotubes in automotive seats open the door for advancing seat heating solutions. Other nanotube market cases have proven the ability of nanotubes to create a conductive network inside the material that can heat up with only a small current.
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Headquartered in Luxembourg, OCSiAl is the world’s largest manufacturer of graphene nanotubes, also known as single wall carbon nanotubes. It employs more than 450 people worldwide in locations including the United States, Europe, China, CIS, India, Japan, and South Korea. Current annual production capacity is 90 tons, which accounts for 97% of the world’s graphene nanotube production capacity. OCSiAl has developed more than 40 graphene nanotube products aimed at enhancing polymer materials, including thermosets, thermoplastics, elastomers, and electrochemical power sources.
Website: tuball.com
Autostop Interiors is a worldwide leader in the design, development, innovation, and manufacturing of interior parts, including seat covers, door panels, armrests, dashboards, steering wheels and other IP products primarily for automotive and transportation industry. Located in Leskovac, Serbia, with its headquarters in London, United Kingdom, Autostop Interiors employs over 1000 people. Using innovation and technology to always expend its capabilities, Autostop offers a complete solution with a vertical integration structure for its customers.
Website: autostopglobal.com/interiors/