Cannon USA Inc. has developed a new mixing head and process for making polyurethane spray-skin parts for automotive applications such as door interiors, seats, dashboards and instrument panels.
A PU-based elastomer is sprayed into heated, open molds. The surface texture gives the parts a leather look and feel. The elastomeric skin is an alternative to vinyl materials, according to the company.
Cannon USA's spray machine has a compact, single-frame design. Features include pressurized day tanks, radial piston pumps, magnetic couplings for both the isocyanate and polyol components, temperature control and closed-loop control.
Reaction temperatures are controlled independently by combining water-jacketed day tanks and in-line heat exchangers. That allows the chemicals to be heated for processing at the mix head, while it keeps the chemicals cooler, if needed, in the day tanks.
After the urethane is sprayed on, solvent is flushed through at high pressure to clean the system before the next shot.
The mix head is a modified version of Cannon's LN-5 style head, a hydraulically operated unit that uses a simple piston action.
The head allows the introduction of a third component, a pigment, for coloring the part.
Cannon also announced that a new Siemens control with a liquid-crystal-display touch screen now is standard on all its high-pressure dosing units for PU.
Cannon USA is based in Cranberry Township, near Mars, Pa.
Tel. (724) 772-5600, fax (724) 776-1070.
