Issue 43/2014 - PolyOne and BASF support the development of the Citroen Airbump R external protection panel

PolyOne has successfully applied its innovative technology to help Citroen develop the groundbreaking Airbump exterior protection panel for its new C4 Cactus passenger sedan
.
The inflatable Airbump panel instantly springs back to its original shape
when compressed to 20 mm.
Citroën points out that this will reduce the cost of daily collisions such as being scratched by shopping carts or other doors, thereby reducing the cost of
vehicle maintenance.

PolyOne also worked with Citroën's design group to develop specialty OnColor® Smartbatch color and additive technologies that enable this unique panel to meet stringent UV stability, appearance and durability standards
.

At the same time, BASF's new Elastollan TPU product AC 55D10 HPM (HPM stands for High Performance Material) is also used to manufacture Airbumps to protect the body
of the Citroen C4 Cactus.
The advantages of Elastollan are that it offers full design freedom, long-term stability, excellent haptics, and a first-class appearance
.
This new material not only inherits the properties of traditional TPU, such as good tensile strength, abrasion resistance and elasticity, as well as excellent low-temperature impact resistance and media resistance, but also adds new properties: excellent surface properties even at small wall thicknesses - scratch resistance, UV resistance, weather resistance, easy cleaning, and can withstand an operating temperature
of 120~150°C.
(Huang Yi, Jiahong)