New generation of low permeability fabrics

Sie sind hier: Homepage > Suche

New generation of low permeability fabrics

Keshavaraj, R. / Hurst, M.D. / Bower, C.L.

Traditionally woven fabrics have been used in automotive safety restraint systems because unique properties can be architectured with these fabrics during weaving and finishing process. Inflator properties primarily govern the fabric requirement in airbags and, fabrics are either coated or uncoated depending on the design requirements. This paper focuses on a new generation of uncoated performance fabrics that are designed to have better folding and packing properties. The volume available in the airbag module is less than 50 % of what it used to be when the airbags were first introduced in automobiles. As this trend continues, the design needs on the fabric in terms of strength and tear resistance has changed very little. These requirements have catalyzed the challenge for higher strength and tear resistant fabrics that would fold and pack better in a module compared to fabrics used today. Milliken & Company are pioneers in the low airperm fabrics refered to as Microperm in the airbag industry. Microperm II is a new generation of fabrics that are engineered to meet the challenge without any sacrifice in physical properties. Typically, design engineers have to resort to lower strength and lower tear resistant fabrics made from lower denier fibers when the packability of the cushion in a given module becomes difficult. The new generation fabrics would provide the solution for design engineers with airbags that would require higher strength and tear resistant fabrics that could also be packed in a smaller module.