Injection Moulding Asia

In-mass solution for vehicle grills

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Launched in 2009, the Peugeot 206+ is the restyled outcome of the well known 206 model. In addition to several modifications to the interior and exterior applications, PSA Design modified the front grill. While seeking to achieve a high quality metallic effect, PSA opted for a plastic in-mass solution that could deliver the same high-quality result as painting the grill.

PSA selected Borealis's Daplen EH104E-0515, a 10% mineral-filled grade developed specifically for automotive exteriors. It contains a special pigment that provides the same effect the car maker was looking for without the painting process.

"The use of an in-mass metallic colour for aesthetical parts requires a high-flow material in order to reduce the weld lines to a minimum," explains Thomas Rothmayer, Senior Application Development Engineer of Borealis' Mobility Business Unit. It has a melt flow rate (MFR, 2.16 kg) of 40 g/10 minutes. This enables filling of challenging parts, even at relatively low injection pressures. Inclusion of UV stabilisers makes it highly suitable for outdoor unpainted applications. In the future, this grade colour will be used as a reference by Peugeot