Interactions of Flexible Urethane Foam and Slush Molded PVC Powder for Instrument Panel Applications

Slush molded PVC instrument panel skins interact with the flexible urethane foam backing. This interaction is accelerated by the light and heat present in the automobile interior, and may result in discoloration, shrinkage and general hardening of the instrument panel. New low stain urethanes have been introduced, which reduce the severity of these problems. These foams, when coupled with recent developments in PVC skin compounds, may produce significant improvements in long term durability of instrument panels.