Since the birth of the first real car, it has a history of more than 130 years. With the continuous development and progress of car technology and performance, the interior design of the car and the use of materials are constantly changing and upgrading. If the shape is the image and appearance of the car, the interior reflects the character and connotation of a car. So, what has happened to the materials of the interior since the development of the automobile, and what new materials have been applied to the automobile?
· Leather (Nappa)
In the early days of automobile development, the industrial level was relatively low, and the types of synthetic materials were relatively scarce. Therefore, it was the first natural material used in automobiles, and one of them was natural leather. In the early days, the first layer of calfskin, which is what we call today Nappa leather, was widely used in vehicle seats. The first layer of cowhide is also recognized as the most luxurious and noble decoration material. With the continuous advancement of the industrial level, a large number of man-made materials continue to emerge, and the number of calves raised for food purposes is also decreasing. As a result, in today's low-end vehicles, the expensive first layer of cowhide is rarely equipped Instead, use cheaper artificial leather or fabric instead.
· Solid wood
Solid wood is also one of the main natural decorative materials used in automotive interiors in the early days. However, unlike the application of Nappa leather, solid wood has been used for instrument panel, door interior panel and steering wheel configuration with its bright color and texture. It has more vitality and atmosphere with cold steel body. style of. Among the commonly used automotive woods, precious woods such as walnut, black wenge, and mahogany are often used in high-end vehicles because of their scarcity and luxury.
· Plastic, slush (PU, PVC, ABS, PP)
Plastic material is currently the most widely used material on vehicles, and plastic figures can be found on almost every vehicle. Common plastic materials are mainly divided into four categories: soft polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene terpolymer (ABS), and polypropylene (PP). According to the molecular structure and thermal properties of resins, plastics are also divided into thermoplastics and thermosets. Most of the plastics commonly used in automotive interiors are thermoplastics. Among them, the slush plastic material commonly used in instrument panels is a type of plastic, also known as coagulation molding, which uses PVC and ABS materials, and then injects some PU foam to enhance the rebound ability; the door inner panel mostly uses ABS or Modified PP material is injection molded; the steering wheel is generally made of semi-rigid PU foam, and the steering wheel cover is mostly made of PP, PU, PVC, ABS and other resin materials.
· Metal (chrome)
In the car's interior, metal is also an indispensable element. A large number of models use chrome trim and chrome metal brushed trim to decorate the cabin. At first, the use of metal decoration in the car was purely for aesthetics. With the increasing use, the advantages of better heat resistance and small coefficient of friction gradually became apparent. At the same time, the chrome-plated decorative parts can maintain the smoothness for a long time, and are not easy to wear and corrosion. This is why the chrome-plated door handle is repeatedly pulled and rubbed by the human hand.
· Nylon fabric
After the Second World War, nylon began to appear and was used in car decoration with other materials. Since the 1950s, PVC-treated fabrics have been widely used in clothing, home furnishings, and automotive interiors. Since this material can be processed into various colors, and can be surface-embossed to achieve different texture effects, it was a relatively fashionable composite textile material at the time.
· Artificial leather
Artificial leather is the product of industrial level progress. In today's automotive interiors, its physical properties and feel are close to leather, and it is economical and durable. It is often used instead of leather. In common artificial leather, according to different coating materials used on different fiber fabrics, it is divided into: PVC leather, PU leather, microfiber PU leather, etc., to be suitable for different use environments. Among them, PVC leather has a harder feel, poor comfort and aging resistance, and has been gradually phased out. It is replaced by a softer, more durable PU leather, which is currently widely used. Among the mid-to-high-end models, microfiber PU leather is currently a popular car seat and interior fabric, because its physical properties and feel are closest to leather, and it is more economical and durable, so it has been welcomed by the market.
· Alcantara
The Chinese name of Alcantara fabric is Ou Jilan, which is a kind of suede-like artificial leather, commonly known as "flip fur". In the 1970s, Japan's Toray Co., Ltd. used 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane synthetic fiber materials, which are synthetic materials. Its biggest advantage is that the coefficient of friction is extremely high, and it rarely slips during fierce driving, which makes it very suitable for wrapping on a steering wheel or sports seat. This characteristic is especially important for high-performance vehicles. At the same time, Alcantara fabric is much lighter than genuine leather, which also greatly reduces the overall vehicle quality.
·Carbon fiber
The earliest carbon fiber material used in car interiors is the preaching of sports feeling by super running. The reason is that carbon fiber material is made of composite fiber with high carbon content, which can not only make the body lighter but also strengthen the body. strength. Carbon fiber vehicles weigh only one-fifth that of ordinary steel cars, but their hardness is more than 10 times that of ordinary steel cars. That's why carbon fiber is commonly used on supercars and performance cars.
·Crystal
The crystal material has only been used in car interiors for nearly two years. In the relatively closed and small space of the car, the crystal texture gives people a sense of transparency and refreshing luxury, which is extremely valuable to consumers, especially female consumers. Great attraction. The crystal barrier of the new BMW X5 is crystal clear and flashes brightly under the sun, which also becomes the biggest bright spot in the car. At the same time, the use of crystal materials has also greatly improved the texture and luxury of the vehicle.