Asahi Kasei Presents New High-Performance Materials

High-Performance Materials Novel TPE Solution for Soft Touch Automotive Interior Surfaces

2024-06-10 Source: Asahi Kasei | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

ASAHI KASEI EUROPE GmbH

FAULHABER Drive Systems

dataTec AG

Wuxi InfiMotion Technology Co., Ltd.

The Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei will present new high-performance materials for automotive applications at the German Rubber Conference DKT from July 1-4, 2024, in Nuremberg, Germany.

Asahi Kasei will showcase an innovative approach using a custom-designed thermoplastic styrene block copolymer (SEBS) grade for automotive interior surfaces.(Source: Asahi Kasei) — Asahi Kasei will showcase an innovative approach using a custom-designed thermoplastic styrene block copolymer (SEBS) grade for automotive interior surfaces.
(Source: Asahi Kasei)

At DKT 2024, Asahi Kasei will present its newly developed hydrogenated solution styrene butadiene rubber (HSBR). By applying selective hydrogenation, this material offers a remarkable combination of characteristics, as it retains some of the desirable properties of an SBR, such as good processability and compatibility, while also benefiting from improved resistance to heat, aging, and chemicals due to the hydrogenation process.

Additionally, recent studies indicate that the functionalised HSBR could contribute to reducing the use of 6PPD, an antioxidant used to protect the polymer from rapid aging. Recent studies have revealed that 6PPD can decompose into a harmful substance known as 6PPD-quinone and upon contact with water, the quinone compound becomes toxic to the environment. Moreover, hydrogenation also increases the hardness of the rubber, potentially reducing the need for filler materials such as silica or carbon black.

Functionalized and selectively hydrogenated SBR opens a horizon with applications ranging from performance tires to non-tire applications such as belts, hoses, and rubber products that require enhanced durability and performance.

The company will present an innovative approach utilizing a tailor-designed thermoplastic styrene block copolymer (SEBS) grade for automotive interior surfaces, which require good haptics and soft touch.

Traditional methods use different materials and production technologies for skin, foam, and core layers in automotive instrument panels, door panels, armrests, or center consoles. The new SEBS material is suitable for both skin and foam layers, which can be molded in one step by using a core back injection molding process. The connection to the polypropylene (PP)-based core layer is possible in the same or separate injection molding step. The strong chemical bonding between all layers eliminates the need for additional adhesive layers. Asahi Kasei's new SEBS helps to reduce the total number of materials, simplify the manufacturing process, and improve the recyclability of interior components.

In addition, Asahi Kasei will introduce other SEBS/SBBS materials available to serve a wide variety of applications in various industries.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.