Owens Corning Composite Solutions

28 Sept 2005

OC® Automotive Announces Structurally and Acoustically Superior Material for Vehicle Interior and Exterior Applications

AcoustiMax™ Substrate is 45 Percent Stronger, 20 Percent Quieter than Competing Systems*

Baden Baden, Germany: September 28, 2005 – At the annual AVK conference, OC Automotive is unveiling AcoustiMax™ substrate, a new light-weight glass-mat composite material that provides improved structural and acoustical properties in applications such as headliners, trunk liners, door modules, seat backs, package trays and under body acoustic shielding. Highlights of the product’s attributes compared to competing materials include:

  • Up to 45 percent higher level of isotropy – comparable mechanical properties independent of the direction – which improves the overall structural integrity. This is key in reducing waste in the construction and installation process as it often requires good part integrity in all directions as the part is fitted to the vehicle.

  • Up to 20 percent enhanced sound absorption characteristics, which improves interior acoustics, an essential consideration in the face of a continuing quest for more comfort and the increased use and integration of multimedia equipment.

  • Excellent lofting characteristics or ability to increase thickness as much as 100 percent during the pre-heating process – allowing the manufacture of parts with varying thickness in a single-stage process. This attribute is significant in today’s marketplace, given that acoustic and structural applications are becoming more and more complex and must be able to carry the loads placed on them without the need for additional reinforcements. This can be achieved by designing-in absorptive characteristics and structural capabilities through different thicknesses throughout a single part.

    AcoustiMax substrate is available in 800 to 1600 grams per square meter, with lofted sheet thickness from 8 to 16 millimeters; it is available in various widths, and with a broad range of special surface films and/or scrims to match specific application requirements.

    “AcoustiMax substrate is the latest example of our commitment to listen to what our customers are asking for, and deliver a product that provides a technologically superior solution to help them advance the products they bring to market,” said Gary Nieman, vice president of OC Automotive. “The ability of AcoustiMax substrate to enhance performance and reduce vehicle weight, part numbers and overall system costs, highlights how and why composites are continuing to transform the automotive industry.”

    OC Automotive is one of the world’s largest suppliers of composites and is a recognized leader in the development of unique structural, acoustic and thermal composite solutions to the global automotive industry. Worldwide, more than 450 scientists are at work 24/7 in research centers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia to build on the company’s 65 years of fiberglass experience, drive change through the conversion of standard materials to composites and deliver the right fiber to the right place at the right time. Additional information about the Owens Corning automotive business is available at www.owenscorning.com/automotive.

    • Notes for editors

    Owens Corning is a world leader in building materials systems and composite systems. Founded in 1938, the company had sales of $5.6 billion in 2004. Additional information is available on the Owens Corning Website at www.owenscorning.com.

    *For additional information call Owens Corning Business Media Relations at 419.248.8979.

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