Mitsubishi Outlander Uses Teijin's V-Lap Polyester Material
Tokyo, Nov 28, 2012 (JCN) - Teijin Limited's V-Lap polyester material has been selected for use in the floor carpet of the new Mitsubishi Outlander, a midsize crossover vehicle that launched in Japan last month.
V-Lap is a nonwoven fabric comprising vertically oriented fibers. It is made with a unique manufacturing method to produce a structure that is bulky, lightweight and easy to mold. V-Lap was initially utilized as a cushioning material for beddings. However, its superior sound-absorbing property led to its use in vehicles for sound proofing.
The polyester material performs every bit as well as conventional sound-absorbing materials, but weighs only half as much. With environmental regulations becoming more stringent worldwide, there is a growing demand for solutions that help to improve fuel efficiency, including through vehicle-weight reduction.
Teijin is also developing V-Lap as a heat-insulating material for use in next-generation houses.