Dow Corning Airbag Coatings Expert to Present at Techtextil-Symposium
MIDLAND, MICHIGAN, USA: Dow Corning Corporation, a leader in innovative silicone technology for the airbag industry, will offer a lecture at Techtextil-Symposium North America this April. William R. Blackwood of Dow Corning's Airbag Market group will present Silicone Rheology and the Impact on Airbag Coatings.
Emphasizing film formation, Mr. Blackwood will discuss the impact of shear rheology of a silicone polymer as it passes under the coating knife. He will also talk about application optimization to help attendees understand the formation and elimination of spitballing.
According to Mr. Blackwood, film formation of liquid silicone rubber onto woven fabric by knife or transfer coating has been achieved over the years by a delicate balance of blade design, fabric tension, and coating rheology. The most critical applications are those requiring a reduction in gas permeability through the coated fabric as well as thermal protection of the fabric.
"One such application is in the coating of fabrics for airbags and inflatable curtains where thermal protection and pressure retention are part of the life-saving features of the system," said Mr. Blackwood. "Modifications of the shear properties of the silicone rubber promote film formation across the interstices of the woven fabric and deliver other properties, such as adhesion and thermal resistivity that require optimization techniques."
The challenge of coating airbag fabric for film formation on one-piece woven inflatable curtains will be addressed as well as cut-and-sew flat fabric that requires adhesion to the seam sealant at the sewn interface. The presentation will take place during the April 2 afternoon automotive sessions at the Techtextil-Symposium.
Techtextil-Symposium North America will take place in conjunction with the Techtextil tradeshow, April 1-3, 2008, at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The symposium will boast renowned international specialists and leading industry consultants covering the latest technology and market trends for a broad range of topics. Techtextil is the most comprehensive North American tradeshow and symposium for technical textiles and nonwovens. The world's leading companies in the industry will meet for education, networking, and business development.
Dow Corning Corporation provides fabric coaters and airbag manufacturers with material and service solutions that enable them to meet not only changing requirements for airbag design, foldability, cushioning capability, and pressure decay time but also cost-in-use and processing requirements. For more information about Dow Corning's comprehensive range of coating and sealing technologies for the airbag industry, visit www.dowcorning.com/textiles or email textiles@dowcorning.com.
About the Presenter, William R. Blackwood
A 1985 graduate of Kansas State University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, William Blackwood was certified as a Professional Engineer by the State of Michigan in 1997. He has been with Dow Corning Corporation for 23 years achieving the level of Associate Industry Scientist and has experience in all facets of silicone production, from manufacturing to process control and process optimization. For the past ten years, Blackwood has served as the Senior Technical Service representative for Dow Corning's North American Industrial Textiles Airbag Market, providing technical assistance in the application and qualification of silicone coatings for the airbag industry. A member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, he holds numerous patents for airbag coatings and silicone fabric treatments and has authored a number of technical articles and conference presentations on those subjects.
About Dow Corning
Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicon-based technology and innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services, Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning's annual sales are outside the United States.
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AGP & Associates,
+1 989 839 5800
collins@agp-inc.com
