The use of upholstery elements from flexible molded PU-foam is part of modern automotive constructions. In Europe too, hot cure moldings are more and more replaced by HR-foam. Practically all European manufacturers take profit of the advantages given by the high pressure mixing principle like loss free injection and exact metering of all components. Together with the large scale introduction of full foam seats the tool construction has proved to be a key factor for profitable production.
Based on these processing elements Bayer has developed Bayfit(R) -systems and the know how for the production of seats and backs with defined areas of different hardness. These “dual hardness foams” full fill the demand of many car drivers for comfortable seats with improved lateral support.
The economical processing of those cushions and their advanced properties under special regard of the vibration/dampening, ageing and fatigue behavior are the main theme of the paper.
