USRE32780E - Core material for an automobile bumper - Google Patents
Core material for an automobile bumper Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- USRE32780E USRE32780E US07/098,052 US9805287A USRE32780E US RE32780 E USRE32780 E US RE32780E US 9805287 A US9805287 A US 9805287A US RE32780 E USRE32780 E US RE32780E
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- core material
- density
- polyolefin resin
- automobile bumper
- bumper
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
- C08J9/00—Working-up of macromolecular substances to porous or cellular articles or materials; After-treatment thereof
- C08J9/22—After-treatment of expandable particles; Forming foamed products
- C08J9/228—Forming foamed products
- C08J9/232—Forming foamed products by sintering expandable particles
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
- B60R19/02—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects
- B60R19/03—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects characterised by material, e.g. composite
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
- C08J9/00—Working-up of macromolecular substances to porous or cellular articles or materials; After-treatment thereof
- C08J9/16—Making expandable particles
- C08J9/18—Making expandable particles by impregnating polymer particles with the blowing agent
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
- C08J2323/00—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers
- C08J2323/02—Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after treatment
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/23—Sheet including cover or casing
- Y10T428/233—Foamed or expanded material encased
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/23—Sheet including cover or casing
- Y10T428/239—Complete cover or casing
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
- Y10T428/249921—Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component
- Y10T428/249953—Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
Definitions
- This invention relates to a core material for use in an automobile bumper.
- bumpers are made of a metallic material, but as modern automobiles have been required to be light in weight for energy saving, plastic foams such as a polyurethane foam have been suggested as substitutes for the metallic material.
- plastic foams such as a polyurethane foam have been suggested as substitutes for the metallic material.
- Such bumpers are usually composed of a core material of a plastic foam and a surface material of a synthetic resin encasing the foam core material.
- Polyurethane foams and polystyrene foams are two typical examples proposed as the plastic foam core material.
- the bumper core material made of a foam is an important member which affects the performance of the automobile bumper.
- the core material is required to have excellent energy absorbing property and shock resistance.
- the core material has also been required to be lighter.
- the polyurethane foam as a conventional core material for an automobile bumper has the defect that because of its lower energy absorption per unit weight, it cannot be sufficiently made light in weight, and its cost is also high.
- the polystyrene foam on the other hand, has the defect of being inferior in oil resistance and shock resistance.
- the conventional core materials for automobile bumpers have their advantages and disadvantages, and cannot fully meet the requirements for bumper cores.
- Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 221,745/1983 discloses a bumper core material composed of a molded article of foamed polypropylene resin particles having a density of 0.015 to 0.045 g/cm 3 and a compressive stress at 50% compression of at least 1 kg/cm 2 .
- This core material can give a lightweight automobile bumper having excellent energy absorbing property.
- bumpers are required to be rendered lighter in weight and smaller in size for a larger passenger occupying space within the range of a fixed automobile length; in other words, the bumper height l (the width of the bumper in its front-rear direction) as shown in FIG. 4 should be decreased.
- the present invention has been accomplished in view of the above state of the art, and has for its object the provision of a core material for automobile bumpers which can lead to size and weight reduction without reducing shock resistance.
- a core material for use in automobile bumpers said core material being composed of a molded article of prefoamed particles of a polyolefin resin, and having a density of from 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm 3 and the relation represented by the following expression
- E 20 is the amount of energy absorption (kg-cm/cm 3 ) when the core material is compressed to 50% at 20° C.
- ⁇ is the density (g/cm 3 ) of the core material.
- FIG. 1 is a graph showing the amount of energy absorption of the core material at 50% compression in a compressive strain-compressive stress curve
- FIG. 2 is a strain-stress curve of a 60 mm-thick test sample obtained in accordance with Example 4 in a shock resistance test;
- FIG. 3 is a strain-stress curve of a 60 mm-thick test sample obtained in accordance with Referential Example 2 in a shock resistance test.
- FIG. 4 is a rough top plan view of the essential parts of an automobile including a bumper 1 and a body 2.
- the core material of this invention can be made from a molded article obtained, for example, by filling prefoamed particles of a polyolefin resin in a mold of the desired shape, and heating and expanding them with steam or the like.
- a polyolefin resin examples include polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene/propylene copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer and a mixture of ethylene/propylene copolymer with low-density polyethylene and/or ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer. Of these, polypropylene, ethylene/propylene random copolymer and high-density polyethylene are preferred.
- the proportion of the olefin is preferably at least 95% by weight.
- These polyolefin resins may be crosslinked or non-crosslinked, but crosslinked resins are especially preferred.
- the prefoamed particles of the polyolefin resin can be obtained, for example, by dispersing particles of the polyolefin resin and a blowing agent in a dispersion medium such as water in a closed vessel, heating the resin particles to a temperature above a point at which they are softened, thereby to impregnate the resin particles with the blowing agent, then opening one end of the vessel, and releasing the resin particles and the dispersion medium into an atmosphere kept at a pressure lower than the pressure of the inside of the vessel to expand the resin particles.
- a dispersion medium such as water
- the core material of the invention has a density ⁇ of 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm 3 , preferably 0.06 to 0.13 g/cm 3 , and also has the relation represented by the following expression
- E 20 is the amount of energy absorption (kg-cm/cm 3 ) when the core material is compressed to 50% at 20° C.
- ⁇ is the density (g/cm 3 ) of the core material.
- the core material has a density of less than 0.05 g/cm 3
- a bumper having a decreased bumper height l cannot be produced without reducing its shock resistance even if it has the relation E 20 / ⁇ 20 kg-cm/g.
- the core material having a density of more than 0.15 g/cm 3 has a large weight even if it has the relation E 20 / ⁇ 20 kg-cm/g. Consequently, a bumper of a lighter weight cannot be produced.
- the E 20 / ⁇ is less than 20 kg-cm/g
- even a core material having a density of 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm 3 is required to be increased in thickness in order to secure sufficient shock resistance. As a result, the weight of the core material increases, and a bumper of a smaller size and a lighter weight cannot be produced.
- the amount of energy absorption, E 20 (kg-cm/cm 3 ), of the core material at 20° C. and 50% compression can be determined as the area of the hatched portion in FIG. 1 ranging from a compressive strain of 0 to 50% in the compressive strain-compressive stress curve of the core material at 20° C.
- the prefoamed particles of the polyolefin resin used for the production of the core material are preferably those which are nearly spherical in shape, have a particle diameter of 2 to 15 mm, a cell diameter of 0.10 to 2.00 mm and a proportion of closed cells of at least 90% and contain air filled within the cells.
- the core material of this invention can be produced, for example, by subjecting the prefoamed particles of the polyolefin resin to a pressurizing treatment with an inorganic gas such as air, oxygen, nitrogen or carbon dioxide or a mixture of the inorganic gas with a volatile organic blowing agent such as hexane, heptane, dichlorodifluoromethane and trichlorotrifluoroethane to impart an internal pressure of about 0.8 to 4.5 kg/cm 2 -G to the prefoamed particles, thereafter filling the prefoamed particles in a mold of a desired shape for producing a bumper core material, and heating the prefoamed particles with steam under a pressure of about 2.5 to 4.5 kg/cm 2 -G to expand the particles and fuse the particles to one another.
- an inorganic gas such as air, oxygen, nitrogen or carbon dioxide or a mixture of the inorganic gas with a volatile organic blowing agent such as hexane, heptane
- the prefoamed particles indicated in Table 1 were pressurized with air to impart an internal pressure (the pressurizing treatment was not carried out in Comparative Example 3), and then filled in a mold for production of a bumper core material. The particles were then heated with steam to expand them and obtain a core material conforming to the shape of the mold.
- Table 2 shows the density, the amount of energy absorption E 20 at 50% compression and 20° C., and the E 20 / ⁇ value of the core material.
- Comparative Example 1 is outside the scope of the invention in regard to density; Comparative Example 2, in regard to density and E 20 / ⁇ ; and Comparative Example 3, in regard to the type of the base resin.
- Table 2 also shows the various properties of the core material.
- the shock resistance was tested at 40° C. by using, as samples, molded articles having a thickness of 60 mm (both 60 mm and 100 mm in the Comparative Examples) and an area of 40 mm ⁇ 40 mm prepared under the same molding conditions at the same expansion rate (same density) by using the prefoamed particles indicated in Table 1.
- Table 2 also shows the properties of commercial bumper core materials made of a polyurethane foam.
- Example 4 The strain-stress curves of the 60 mm-thick samples in the shock resistance tests in Example 4 and Referential Example 2 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.
- the core material was heated at 100° C. for 24 hours, and its shrinkage (dimensional change) at this time was measured. The result was evaluated on the following scale.
- Kerosene at 20° C. was dropped onto the core material, and the core material was observed 2 hours later. The result was evaluated on the following scale.
- a load of 12 kg was let fall from a height of 60 cm onto the core material sample (60 mm or 100 mm thick) at 40° C. to impart shock and produce strain. Immediately then, the percent residual strain was measured, and evaluated on the following scale.
- the core material of this invention is composed of a molded article of prefoamed particles of the polyolefin resin and has a density of 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm 3 and the relation E 20 / ⁇ 20 kg-cm/g, it has a high energy absorptivity per unit weight and sufficient energy absorbing property. Moreover, even when its thickness is decreased, its shock resistance is not reduced.
- the height of a bumper made by using this core material can be decreased as compared with conventional bumpers having plastic cores, and the passenger occupying space in an automobile of a fixed length can be increased. Furthermore, since the bumper height can be decreased, the volume of the bumper can also be decreased. Consequently, the total weight of the bumper can be reduced.
Abstract
For use in an automobile bumper, a core material composed of a molded article of prefoamed polyolefin resin particles. The core material has a density of 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm3 and the relation represented by the following expression
E.sub.20/ρ ≧20 kg-cm/g
wherein E20 is the amount of energy absorption (kg-cm/cm3) when the core material is compressed to 50% at 20° C., and ρ is the density (g/cm3) of the core material.
Description
This invention relates to a core material for use in an automobile bumper.
Conventional automobile bumpers are made of a metallic material, but as modern automobiles have been required to be light in weight for energy saving, plastic foams such as a polyurethane foam have been suggested as substitutes for the metallic material. Such bumpers are usually composed of a core material of a plastic foam and a surface material of a synthetic resin encasing the foam core material. Polyurethane foams and polystyrene foams are two typical examples proposed as the plastic foam core material.
The bumper core material made of a foam is an important member which affects the performance of the automobile bumper. Generally, the core material is required to have excellent energy absorbing property and shock resistance. Furthermore, in view of the recent requirement for lighter automobile weight, the core material has also been required to be lighter.
The polyurethane foam as a conventional core material for an automobile bumper has the defect that because of its lower energy absorption per unit weight, it cannot be sufficiently made light in weight, and its cost is also high. The polystyrene foam, on the other hand, has the defect of being inferior in oil resistance and shock resistance. Thus, the conventional core materials for automobile bumpers have their advantages and disadvantages, and cannot fully meet the requirements for bumper cores.
As an attempt to remove the defects of the conventional bumper cores, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 221,745/1983 discloses a bumper core material composed of a molded article of foamed polypropylene resin particles having a density of 0.015 to 0.045 g/cm3 and a compressive stress at 50% compression of at least 1 kg/cm2. This core material can give a lightweight automobile bumper having excellent energy absorbing property. Nowadays, bumpers are required to be rendered lighter in weight and smaller in size for a larger passenger occupying space within the range of a fixed automobile length; in other words, the bumper height l (the width of the bumper in its front-rear direction) as shown in FIG. 4 should be decreased. But in the case of a bumper core material composed of the molded article of foamed polypropylene resin particles, there is a limit to the extent to which the bumper height l can be decreased without reducing the shock resistance required of the bumper, and this core material still leaves room for improvement.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above state of the art, and has for its object the provision of a core material for automobile bumpers which can lead to size and weight reduction without reducing shock resistance.
According to this invention, there is provided a core material for use in automobile bumpers, said core material being composed of a molded article of prefoamed particles of a polyolefin resin, and having a density of from 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm3 and the relation represented by the following expression
E.sub.20 /ρ≧20 kg-cm/g
wherein E20 is the amount of energy absorption (kg-cm/cm3) when the core material is compressed to 50% at 20° C., and ρ is the density (g/cm3) of the core material.
The present invention will be described in detail partly with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a graph showing the amount of energy absorption of the core material at 50% compression in a compressive strain-compressive stress curve;
FIG. 2 is a strain-stress curve of a 60 mm-thick test sample obtained in accordance with Example 4 in a shock resistance test;
FIG. 3 is a strain-stress curve of a 60 mm-thick test sample obtained in accordance with Referential Example 2 in a shock resistance test; and
FIG. 4 is a rough top plan view of the essential parts of an automobile including a bumper 1 and a body 2.
The core material of this invention can be made from a molded article obtained, for example, by filling prefoamed particles of a polyolefin resin in a mold of the desired shape, and heating and expanding them with steam or the like. Examples of the polyolefin resin include polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene/propylene copolymer, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer and a mixture of ethylene/propylene copolymer with low-density polyethylene and/or ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer. Of these, polypropylene, ethylene/propylene random copolymer and high-density polyethylene are preferred. In the case of copolymers of an olefin with another monomer, the proportion of the olefin is preferably at least 95% by weight. These polyolefin resins may be crosslinked or non-crosslinked, but crosslinked resins are especially preferred.
The prefoamed particles of the polyolefin resin can be obtained, for example, by dispersing particles of the polyolefin resin and a blowing agent in a dispersion medium such as water in a closed vessel, heating the resin particles to a temperature above a point at which they are softened, thereby to impregnate the resin particles with the blowing agent, then opening one end of the vessel, and releasing the resin particles and the dispersion medium into an atmosphere kept at a pressure lower than the pressure of the inside of the vessel to expand the resin particles.
The core material of the invention has a density ρ of 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm3, preferably 0.06 to 0.13 g/cm3, and also has the relation represented by the following expression
E.sub.20 /ρ≧20 kg-cm/g
preferably
E.sub.20 /ρ≧22 kg-cm/g
wherein E20 is the amount of energy absorption (kg-cm/cm3) when the core material is compressed to 50% at 20° C., and ρ is the density (g/cm3) of the core material.
When the core material has a density of less than 0.05 g/cm3, a bumper having a decreased bumper height l cannot be produced without reducing its shock resistance even if it has the relation E20 /ρ≧20 kg-cm/g. On the other hand, the core material having a density of more than 0.15 g/cm3, has a large weight even if it has the relation E20 /ρ≧20 kg-cm/g. Consequently, a bumper of a lighter weight cannot be produced. If the E20 /ρ is less than 20 kg-cm/g, even a core material having a density of 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm3 is required to be increased in thickness in order to secure sufficient shock resistance. As a result, the weight of the core material increases, and a bumper of a smaller size and a lighter weight cannot be produced.
As shown in FIG. 1, the amount of energy absorption, E20 (kg-cm/cm3), of the core material at 20° C. and 50% compression can be determined as the area of the hatched portion in FIG. 1 ranging from a compressive strain of 0 to 50% in the compressive strain-compressive stress curve of the core material at 20° C.
In order for the core material to have the relation E20 /ρ≧20 kg-cm/g, the prefoamed particles of the polyolefin resin used for the production of the core material are preferably those which are nearly spherical in shape, have a particle diameter of 2 to 15 mm, a cell diameter of 0.10 to 2.00 mm and a proportion of closed cells of at least 90% and contain air filled within the cells.
The core material of this invention can be produced, for example, by subjecting the prefoamed particles of the polyolefin resin to a pressurizing treatment with an inorganic gas such as air, oxygen, nitrogen or carbon dioxide or a mixture of the inorganic gas with a volatile organic blowing agent such as hexane, heptane, dichlorodifluoromethane and trichlorotrifluoroethane to impart an internal pressure of about 0.8 to 4.5 kg/cm2 -G to the prefoamed particles, thereafter filling the prefoamed particles in a mold of a desired shape for producing a bumper core material, and heating the prefoamed particles with steam under a pressure of about 2.5 to 4.5 kg/cm2 -G to expand the particles and fuse the particles to one another.
By using the core material of this invention, there can be produced a bumper which has a bumper height of 50 to 100 mm and yet shows good shock resistance.
The following examples illustrate the present invention more specifically.
In each run, the prefoamed particles indicated in Table 1 were pressurized with air to impart an internal pressure (the pressurizing treatment was not carried out in Comparative Example 3), and then filled in a mold for production of a bumper core material. The particles were then heated with steam to expand them and obtain a core material conforming to the shape of the mold. Table 2 shows the density, the amount of energy absorption E20 at 50% compression and 20° C., and the E20 /ρ value of the core material. Comparative Example 1 is outside the scope of the invention in regard to density; Comparative Example 2, in regard to density and E20 /ρ; and Comparative Example 3, in regard to the type of the base resin.
Table 2 also shows the various properties of the core material.
The shock resistance was tested at 40° C. by using, as samples, molded articles having a thickness of 60 mm (both 60 mm and 100 mm in the Comparative Examples) and an area of 40 mm×40 mm prepared under the same molding conditions at the same expansion rate (same density) by using the prefoamed particles indicated in Table 1.
As referential examples, Table 2 also shows the properties of commercial bumper core materials made of a polyurethane foam.
The strain-stress curves of the 60 mm-thick samples in the shock resistance tests in Example 4 and Referential Example 2 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.
TABLE 1 __________________________________________________________________________ Properties of the prefoamed particles Average Average Base resin particle cell Apparent Gel fraction Density diameter diameter density Type (%) (g/cm.sup.3) (mm) (mm) (g/cm.sup.3) __________________________________________________________________________ Example 1 Ethylene/propylene random copoly- 38 0.908 4.5 0.45 0.06 mer (ethylene content 3.2 wt. %) 2 Ethylene/propylene random copoly- " " " " 0.09 mer (ethylene content 3.2 wt. %) 3 Ethylene/propylene random copoly- Non-cross- 0.910 5.2 0.65 0.06 mer (ethylene content 3.2 wt. %) linked 4 Ethylene/propylene random copoly- Non-cross- " " " 0.09 mer (ethylene content 3.2 wt. %) linked 5 High-density polyethylene 35 0.968 5.8 0.54 0.06 6 High-density polyethylene " " " " 0.10 Comparative Example 1 Ethylene/propylene random copoly- Non-cross- 0.910 4.5 0.83 0.03 mer (ethylene content 3.2 wt. %) linked 2 Low-density polyethylene 62 0.923 6.0 0.74 0.20 3 Polystyrene -- 1.05 4.5 0.21 0.06 __________________________________________________________________________
TABLE 2 __________________________________________________________________________ Heat Oil Overall resis- resis- Shock resistance (*3) evalua- E.sub.20 E.sub.20 /ρ tance tance 60 mm-thick 10 mm-thick tion ρ(g/cm.sup.3) (kg-cm/cm.sup.3) (kg-cm/g) (*1) (*2) sample sample (*5) __________________________________________________________________________ Example 1 0.06 1.8 30.0 O O O -- O 2 0.09 2.9 32.2 O O O -- O 3 0.06 1.7 28.3 O O O -- O 4 0.09 2.7 30.0 O O O -- O 5 0.06 1.4 23.3 O O O --O 6 0.10 2.5 25.0 O O O -- O Comparative Example 1 0.03 0.9 30.0 O O X O X 2 0.20 3.1 15.5 X O O O X 3 0.06 2.5 41.7 X X X X X Refer- encial Example 1 0.09 1.1 12.2 O O X (*4) X (*4) X 2 0.22 3.0 13.6 O O X (*4) O (*4) X __________________________________________________________________________
The various properties shown in Table 2 were measured and determined by the following methods.
(*1): Heat resistancee
The core material was heated at 100° C. for 24 hours, and its shrinkage (dimensional change) at this time was measured. The result was evaluated on the following scale.
: the shrinkage was less than 5%
X: the shrinkage was at least 5%
(*2): Oil resistance
Kerosene at 20° C. was dropped onto the core material, and the core material was observed 2 hours later. The result was evaluated on the following scale.
: the core material was not damaged by kerosene
X: the core material was damaged by kerosene
(*3): Shock resistance
A load of 12 kg was let fall from a height of 60 cm onto the core material sample (60 mm or 100 mm thick) at 40° C. to impart shock and produce strain. Immediately then, the percent residual strain was measured, and evaluated on the following scale.
: the percent residual strain was not more than 35%
X: the percent residual strain was more than 35%
(*4): Shock resistance (for Referential Examples)
Samples having the same sizes as in Comparative Examples were prepared by cutting commercial urethane bumper core materials, and tested in accordance with (*3) above.
(*5): Overall evaluation
: excellent in regard to all of the above properties
X: inferior in regard to at least one of the above properties
Since the core material of this invention is composed of a molded article of prefoamed particles of the polyolefin resin and has a density of 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm3 and the relation E20 /ρ≧20 kg-cm/g, it has a high energy absorptivity per unit weight and sufficient energy absorbing property. Moreover, even when its thickness is decreased, its shock resistance is not reduced. The height of a bumper made by using this core material can be decreased as compared with conventional bumpers having plastic cores, and the passenger occupying space in an automobile of a fixed length can be increased. Furthermore, since the bumper height can be decreased, the volume of the bumper can also be decreased. Consequently, the total weight of the bumper can be reduced.
Claims (9)
1. A core material for use in automobile bumpers, said core material being composed of a molded article of prefoamed particles of a polyolefin resin, and having a density of 0.05 to 0.15 kg-g/cm3 and the relation represented by the following expression
E.sub.20 /ρ≧20 kg-cm/g
wherein E20 is the amount of energy absorption (kg-cm/cm3) when the core material is compressed to 50% at 20° C., and ρ is the density (g/cm3) of the core material.
wherein said particles are nearly spherical in shape, have a particle diameter of 2 to 15 mm, a cell diameter of 0.10 to 2.00 mm and a proportion of closed cells of at least 90% and contain air filled within the cells.
2. The core material of claim 1 which has a density of 0.06 to 0.13 g/cm3 and the relation represented by the following expression E20 /ρ≧22 kg-cm/g.
3. In an automobile bumper which is composed of a core material and a surface covering material, the improvement wherein said core material is composed of a molded article of prefoamed particles of a polyolefin resin, and having a density of 0.05 to 0.15 g/cm3 and the relation represented by the following expression
E.sub.20 /ρ≧20 kg-cm/g
wherein E20 is the amount of energy absorption (kg-cm/cm3) when the core material is compressed to 50% at 20° C., and ρ is the density (g/cm3) of the core material,
wherein said particles are nearly spherical in shape, have a particle diameter of 2 to 15 mm, a cell diameter of 0.10 to 2.00 mm and a proportion of closed cells of at least 90% and contain air filled within the cells.
4. The automobile bumper of claim 3 wherein the core material has a density of 0.06 to 0.13 kg-g/cm3 and the relation represented by the following expression
E.sub.20 /ρ≧22 kg-cm/g.
5. The automobile bumper of claim 3 which has a bumper height of from 50 to 100 millimeters.
6. The automobile bumper of claim 3 wherein the polyolefin resin is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, ethylene/propylene random copolymer and high-density polyethylene.
7. The automobile bumper of claim 3 wherein the polyolefin resin is an ethylene/propylene random copolymer.
8. The automobile bumper of claim 3 wherein the polyolefin resin is high-density polyethylene. .Iadd.
9. The core material of claim 1, wherein the polyolefin resin is not cross linked. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The core material of claim 1, wherein the polyolefin resin is cross linked. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The automobile bumper of claim 3 wherein the core material is composed of a polyolefin resin that is not cross linked. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The automobile bumper of claim 3 wherein the core material is composed of a polyolefin resin that is cross linked. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The automobile bumper of claim 7 wherein said copolymer is not cross linked. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The automobile bumper of claim 7 wherein said copolymer is cross linked. .Iaddend.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP59-44541 | 1984-03-08 | ||
JP59044541A JPS60189660A (en) | 1984-03-08 | 1984-03-08 | Core material for automobile bumper |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US06/708,937 Reissue US4600636A (en) | 1984-03-08 | 1985-03-06 | Core material for an automobile bumper |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
USRE32780E true USRE32780E (en) | 1988-11-08 |
Family
ID=12694368
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US06/708,937 Ceased US4600636A (en) | 1984-03-08 | 1985-03-06 | Core material for an automobile bumper |
US07/098,052 Expired - Lifetime USRE32780E (en) | 1984-03-08 | 1987-09-17 | Core material for an automobile bumper |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US06/708,937 Ceased US4600636A (en) | 1984-03-08 | 1985-03-06 | Core material for an automobile bumper |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US4600636A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0155558B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS60189660A (en) |
CA (1) | CA1233608A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3586112D1 (en) |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4908393A (en) | 1988-03-24 | 1990-03-13 | Mitsubishi Yuka Badische Co., Ltd. | Propylene resin foamed particles and foamed mold article |
WO1991010705A1 (en) * | 1990-01-11 | 1991-07-25 | Shanelec Dennis A | Molded polypropylene foam tire cores |
US6034144A (en) | 1998-06-11 | 2000-03-07 | Jsp Corporation | Molded article of foamed and expanded beads of propylene resin |
US6077875A (en) | 1998-03-23 | 2000-06-20 | Jsp Corporation | Foamed and expanded beads of polypropylene resin for molding |
US6133331A (en) | 1996-12-13 | 2000-10-17 | Jsp Corporation | Expanded particles of polyolefin resin and process for preparing the same |
US6313184B1 (en) | 1997-12-01 | 2001-11-06 | Jsp Corporation | Expanded polypropylene resin beads and a molded article |
US6451419B1 (en) | 1996-08-12 | 2002-09-17 | Jsp Corporation | Shock absorbing material |
US6547996B1 (en) | 1997-06-18 | 2003-04-15 | Jsp Corporation | Production apparatus of expansion-molded article, auxiliary member for transfer of foamed particles and production method of expansion-molded article |
US20040056491A1 (en) * | 2002-08-28 | 2004-03-25 | Jsp Corporation | Bumper core |
US20040174024A1 (en) * | 2003-03-04 | 2004-09-09 | Jsp Corporation | Vehicle bumper structure |
US6793256B2 (en) | 2001-12-17 | 2004-09-21 | Jsp Licenses, Inc. | Vehicle bumper energy absorber system and method |
US6818161B2 (en) | 1997-04-01 | 2004-11-16 | Jsp Corporation | Molded body of thermoplastic resin having sound absorption characteristics |
US7259189B2 (en) | 2003-06-12 | 2007-08-21 | Jsp Corporation | Expanded polypropylene resin beads and process for the production thereof |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS6146744A (en) * | 1984-08-14 | 1986-03-07 | Kanegafuchi Chem Ind Co Ltd | Car bumper core member |
JPS61179236A (en) * | 1985-02-04 | 1986-08-11 | Japan Styrene Paper Co Ltd | Energy absorbing material |
JPH0410128Y2 (en) * | 1985-12-09 | 1992-03-12 | ||
JPS62256636A (en) * | 1986-04-30 | 1987-11-09 | Kanegafuchi Chem Ind Co Ltd | Preparation of core material for vehicular bumper and mold therefor |
US4756948A (en) * | 1986-07-22 | 1988-07-12 | Japan Styrene Paper Corporation | Core material for automobile bumpers |
US5372764A (en) * | 1990-08-06 | 1994-12-13 | Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Method of making olefin synthetic resin expansion molded articles |
KR0159801B1 (en) * | 1994-08-06 | 1999-01-15 | 박원배 | Microcellular pre-expanded polyolefin particles and process for preparing thereof |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3709806A (en) * | 1970-06-27 | 1973-01-09 | Toray Industries | Process for the preparation of radiation-crosslinkable foamable polyolefin particles |
US3823213A (en) * | 1966-04-28 | 1974-07-09 | Basf Ag | Production of expanded moldings of olefin polymers |
US4247650A (en) * | 1977-08-15 | 1981-01-27 | Ashi-Dow Limited | Expanded particulate material of polyolefin resin |
JPS5740136A (en) * | 1980-08-21 | 1982-03-05 | Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd | Shock energy absorbing bumper for vehicle |
US4443393A (en) * | 1981-12-09 | 1984-04-17 | Japan Styrene Paper Corporation | Method of pressurizing treatment of pre-foamed particles of polyolefin resin |
US4504601A (en) * | 1982-10-01 | 1985-03-12 | Japan Styrene Paper Corporation | Process for producing pre-foamed particles of polypropylene resin |
US4504534A (en) * | 1982-06-19 | 1985-03-12 | Japan Styrene Paper Corporation | Core material for automobile bumpers |
US4540718A (en) * | 1983-04-05 | 1985-09-10 | Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Pre-expanded particle of polyolefine and process for preparing the same |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS4915141A (en) * | 1972-04-11 | 1974-02-09 | ||
JPS5712035A (en) * | 1980-06-25 | 1982-01-21 | Japan Styrene Paper Co Ltd | Production of polyolefin resin molded foam |
JPS5943491B2 (en) * | 1981-08-05 | 1984-10-22 | 日本スチレンペ−パ−株式会社 | Polypropylene resin foam molding |
-
1984
- 1984-03-08 JP JP59044541A patent/JPS60189660A/en active Granted
-
1985
- 1985-02-27 DE DE8585102177T patent/DE3586112D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-02-27 EP EP19850102177 patent/EP0155558B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-03-04 CA CA000475660A patent/CA1233608A/en not_active Expired
- 1985-03-06 US US06/708,937 patent/US4600636A/en not_active Ceased
-
1987
- 1987-09-17 US US07/098,052 patent/USRE32780E/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3823213A (en) * | 1966-04-28 | 1974-07-09 | Basf Ag | Production of expanded moldings of olefin polymers |
US3709806A (en) * | 1970-06-27 | 1973-01-09 | Toray Industries | Process for the preparation of radiation-crosslinkable foamable polyolefin particles |
US4247650A (en) * | 1977-08-15 | 1981-01-27 | Ashi-Dow Limited | Expanded particulate material of polyolefin resin |
JPS5740136A (en) * | 1980-08-21 | 1982-03-05 | Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd | Shock energy absorbing bumper for vehicle |
US4443393A (en) * | 1981-12-09 | 1984-04-17 | Japan Styrene Paper Corporation | Method of pressurizing treatment of pre-foamed particles of polyolefin resin |
US4504534A (en) * | 1982-06-19 | 1985-03-12 | Japan Styrene Paper Corporation | Core material for automobile bumpers |
US4504601A (en) * | 1982-10-01 | 1985-03-12 | Japan Styrene Paper Corporation | Process for producing pre-foamed particles of polypropylene resin |
US4540718A (en) * | 1983-04-05 | 1985-09-10 | Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Pre-expanded particle of polyolefine and process for preparing the same |
Cited By (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4908393A (en) | 1988-03-24 | 1990-03-13 | Mitsubishi Yuka Badische Co., Ltd. | Propylene resin foamed particles and foamed mold article |
WO1991010705A1 (en) * | 1990-01-11 | 1991-07-25 | Shanelec Dennis A | Molded polypropylene foam tire cores |
US5073444A (en) * | 1990-01-11 | 1991-12-17 | Shanelec Dennis A | Molded polypropylene foam tire cores |
US6451419B1 (en) | 1996-08-12 | 2002-09-17 | Jsp Corporation | Shock absorbing material |
US6133331A (en) | 1996-12-13 | 2000-10-17 | Jsp Corporation | Expanded particles of polyolefin resin and process for preparing the same |
US6818161B2 (en) | 1997-04-01 | 2004-11-16 | Jsp Corporation | Molded body of thermoplastic resin having sound absorption characteristics |
US6547996B1 (en) | 1997-06-18 | 2003-04-15 | Jsp Corporation | Production apparatus of expansion-molded article, auxiliary member for transfer of foamed particles and production method of expansion-molded article |
US6313184B1 (en) | 1997-12-01 | 2001-11-06 | Jsp Corporation | Expanded polypropylene resin beads and a molded article |
US6077875A (en) | 1998-03-23 | 2000-06-20 | Jsp Corporation | Foamed and expanded beads of polypropylene resin for molding |
US6034144A (en) | 1998-06-11 | 2000-03-07 | Jsp Corporation | Molded article of foamed and expanded beads of propylene resin |
US6793256B2 (en) | 2001-12-17 | 2004-09-21 | Jsp Licenses, Inc. | Vehicle bumper energy absorber system and method |
US20040056491A1 (en) * | 2002-08-28 | 2004-03-25 | Jsp Corporation | Bumper core |
US6890009B2 (en) | 2002-08-28 | 2005-05-10 | Jsp Corporation | Bumper core |
US20040174024A1 (en) * | 2003-03-04 | 2004-09-09 | Jsp Corporation | Vehicle bumper structure |
US6983964B2 (en) | 2003-03-04 | 2006-01-10 | Jsp Corporation | Vehicle bumper structure |
US7259189B2 (en) | 2003-06-12 | 2007-08-21 | Jsp Corporation | Expanded polypropylene resin beads and process for the production thereof |
US20070197673A1 (en) * | 2003-06-12 | 2007-08-23 | Jsp Corporation | Foamed molding of expanded polypropylene resin beads |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0155558A3 (en) | 1986-06-25 |
EP0155558B1 (en) | 1992-05-27 |
CA1233608A (en) | 1988-03-08 |
EP0155558B2 (en) | 1996-06-19 |
DE3586112D1 (en) | 1992-07-02 |
EP0155558A2 (en) | 1985-09-25 |
US4600636A (en) | 1986-07-15 |
JPH0236419B2 (en) | 1990-08-17 |
JPS60189660A (en) | 1985-09-27 |
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