14 Jul 2004

GE ADVANCED MATERIALS LAUNCHES NEW LEXAN® EXL RESIN GRADE FOR INTEGRATED AIRBAGS

OUTSTANDING DUCTILITY, FREEDOM OF DESIGN AND INCREASED SAFETY DRIVE INNOVATION FOR AUTOMOTIVE INSTRUMENT PANELS

BERGEN OP ZOOM, The Netherlands – June 29, 2004 – GE Advanced Materials, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), has launched LEXAN® EXL 1414H resin, a new grade in the popular LEXAN polycarbonate family, developed specifically for use in automotive applications and is particularly well suited for integrated airbag door designs and airbag components.

Modern automotive designers increasingly find themselves navigating between functional and safe designs versus stylish and consumer-friendly aesthetic appeal. Nowhere is this distinction more apparent than in airbag design. Current airbag designs mandate a seam where the airbag door intersects with the remaining instrument panel, interrupting design flow. A design solution comes in the form of an integrated airbag door, however, typical materials used in these designs produce hazardous projectiles that have the potential to injure consumers.

LEXAN EXL 1414H resin could pave the way for synergy between integrated airbag design and consumer safety. The low temperature ductility of the grade, up to – 40 degrees Celsius, allows robust airbag deployments with no material fragmentation, permitting increased consumer safety when compared to similar polycarbonates or other materials currently being tested in integrated airbag designs. Instrument panel designers can take advantage of this property, combined with high heat and humidity resistance, to create a stylish and attractive design that can withstand the test of time.

“LEXAN EXL 1414 H resin is a superior choice for automotive airbag designers,” said Adam Trappe, industry manager - automotive interiors at GE Advanced Materials. “It is durable enough to last through sustained exposure to low temperatures, while flexible enough to allow airbag release without the typical projectiles so common in typical integrated airbag designs where other materials have been tested.”

The use of LEXAN EXL 1414 H resin in automotive instrument panels offers a potential cost savings opportunity for automotive manufacturers. The material allows the use of a self-hinge design, eliminating the need for steel brackets, tethers, scrims and airbag door secondary operations. In addition, higher flow allows thinner wall designs and can further improve the cost model through material mass reduction and molding cycle time optimization.

Reader enquiries

GE Plastics
Plasticslaan 1
4600 AC Bergen op Zoom
Netherlands

Helen Vandebovenkamp
helen.vandebovenkamp@ge.com

Tel: +31 164 29 20 97
Fax: +31 164 29 10 66
Netherlands

+31 164 29 20 97

helen.vandebovenkamp@ge.com

www.geplastics.com

Notes for editors

GE Advanced Materials

GE Advanced Materials is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicon-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics. Among its businesses are:

• Silicones, which includes GE Toshiba Silicones in the Pacific region and GE Bayer Silicones in Europe, offers silanes, specialty silicones, urethane additives, adhesives, sealants, resins, and elastomers for a variety of industries such as personal care, automotive, tire and rubber, construction, healthcare, electronics, household and institutional, agriculture, textiles, appliances, bedding and furnishings, foam control, and consumer (https://www.gesilicones.com/gesilicones/am1/en/home.jsp);

• Plastics is a global plastics materials supplier and distributor, which serves customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, building and construction, data storage and optical media, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications, computers and peripheral devices, outdoor vehicles and devices, and packaging (https://www.geplastics.com);

• Quartz produces high purity materials for the semiconductor, fiber optic, lamp making and water purification industries. GE Quartz is a leading supplier of quartz materials to the semiconductor industry (www.gequartz.com/en/index.htm);

• GE (NYSE:GE) is a diversified technology, media, and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming, and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

LEXAN is a registered trademark of General Electric Company.

Related images

The use of LEXAN® EXL 1414 H resin in automotive instrument panels offers a potential cost savings opportunity for automotive manufacturers. The material allows the use of a self-hinge design, eliminating the need for steel brackets, tethers, scrims and airbag door secondary operations. In addition, higher flow allows thinner wall designs and can further improve the cost model through material mass reduction and molding cycle time optimization.