Dow Corning Airbag Coatings Expert to Present at 2007 Techtextil-Symposium
MIDLAND, MICHIGAN, USA - Dow Corning Corporation, a leader in innovative silicone technology for the airbag industry, will offer a lecture at the 14th International Techtextil-Symposium this June. William R. Blackwood of Dow Corning's Airbag Market group will present "Optimizing Silicone Solutions for Inflatable Curtains."
Blackwood's presentation will discuss how silicone, primarily from a coated fabric perspective, can address the need for an innovative yet timely approach for the development of new silicone coating technologies as well as the optimization of processing requirements.
"In the world of manufacturing inflatable curtains, the drive is on for greater product processing efficiency and cost reduction," says Blackwood. "One perspective focuses on cost and increased performance at lower coat weights. Another often overlooked perspective is the optimization of processing steps and reduction of scrap or rejected materials."
According to Blackwood, the increased emphasis on rollover protection from inflatable curtains has dramatically changed the role of coatings in the airbag market in the last five years. The market has taken two basic approaches to meet these needs:
o One piece woven (OPW) technology and
o Coated flat fabric combined with a seam sealant.
Both of these require individual coating technologies that when combined with the appropriate specific silicone evaluation methodologies, can be implemented in a timely manner. This product development process includes both the product performance application as well as its manufacturing implementation.
The presentation will take place at 10:15 a.m., June 14, and will review examples of how the silicone producer can work with the module maker and coated fabric provider to deliver the most innovative solutions for airbag safety technologies while addressing the need for optimal processing.
The Techtextil-Symposium will take place June 11-14 at the Congress Center Messe in Frankfurt, Germany. Techtextil is designed to make existing trends visible and to promote new developments from research to production. The symposium also aims to intensify the interdisciplinary working relationship between science, industry, and users. In addition to lecture blocks focusing on automotive, medical textiles, and innovative building with textiles, there are also presentations featuring the latest developments with textile materials, composites, and technologies. For more information, visit techtextil.messefrankfurt.com.
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 e-mail textiles@dowcorning.com.
About the Presenter, William R. Blackwood
Blackwood has been with Dow Corning for 22 years and has experience in all facets of silicone production, from manufacturing to process control and optimization. For the past eight years, Blackwood has served as the technical service representative for Dow Corning's North American Industrial Textiles Airbag Market. A member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, he holds numerous patents for airbag coatings and silicone fabric treatments and has authored many technical articles and presentations. Blackwood holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Kansas State University and Professional Engineer certification from the State of Michigan.
For editorial assistance,contact Nancy Collins, AGP & Associates, +1 989 839 5800, collins@agp-inc.com.
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 that offers 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.
