French carmaker Renault and Antolin, which have a longstanding collaboration, have jointly developed technology of chemical foaming for door panel visual application.
The technology has now been fully validated, passing standard specification and launched in serial production for the rear door panels of the new Renault Espace. Antolin has been implementing this solution since 2014, when it was premiered on the visible part of a trunk trim.
Chemical foaming technology is a sustainable alternative in terms of weight, recyclability, ductility, and carbon footprint. The key benefits are in:
Weight: More than 20% weight reduction can be achieved in combination with a core-back process, keeping the same mechanical (stiffness) properties versus conventional door panel.
Recyclability: Foamed injected parts can also be recycled.
Ductility: Semi-ductile material is possible with foamed PP (polypropylene). Allowing to use the technology in different interior trim parts, especially for doors panels applications.
Carbon footprint: -20% in GWP (Global Warming Potential) considering ‘cradle to grave’ LCA (Life-Cycle Assessment) can be achieved.
Apart from the front and rear door panels, Antolin also supplies other products for this model, some of them with recycled materials or coverings, as the headliner substrate (with plastic frame in the panoramic version), sun visors, pillar trim, trunk trim, window regulators (with plastic rails), dome lamp and ambient lighting (RGB-red, green, blue module for door panels).