F2008-04-007
The Evaluation of Properties a Car with Plastic Glazing
A this study was researched polycarbonate glazing for feasibility of application to automotive. Specifically, the use of polycarbonate can provide benefits suchas vehicle weight reduction, occupant containment and design flexibility. Polycarbonate is a highly versatile material that offers unique properties for to styling, design-driven challenges and reduces the weight compared to glass in today's highly competitive automotive market. We were carried out evaluation of properties for plastic glazing of installed car. The plastic glazing is made of anti-scratch coated polycarbonate by thermoforming. The evaluation properties are phenomena of traceries frost, test of fall plumb down ball, and fatigue impact test and so on. A visual field is very important for driver. Driver must having a wide field of view in driving of car as possible as. And Passenger must having safety region. The polycarbonate glazing is not traceries frosted in rainy weather because of thermo conductivity. Case of fatigue impact test when giving a same load, the glass is broken to displacement of 20mm, but polycarbonate glazing is not broken and then restoration. In this study, to use polycarbonate for automobile application, we studied hard coating on polycarbonate and checked over application possibility in automotive. And manufacturing system was used compressed molding system. Dynamic properties of noise and vibration were measured by PXI system (National Instrument Inc.) used microphone, accelerated sensor and strain gauge. Frequency range of microphone is 20～20,000Hz, and accelerated sensor is 10～3,000Hz. Measuring point is established between driver and passenger seat. Finally, in effect of noise, vibration and safety polycarbonate glazing is almost equal to glass. The weight of polycarbonate glazing is reduced less about 40% than glass.
Session: Design Process