Lear Introduces SoyFoam Technology For Automotive Seating Applications

Southfield, MI - Lear Corporation, an automotive interior supplier, recently announced that it has developed SoyFoam, a soybean oil-based flexible foam material for automotive interior applications.

According to Lear, SoyFoam:

• requires a lower environmental impact to produce
• is up to 24% renewable, as opposed to traditional non-renewable petroleum-based foam
• reduces dependency on volatile energy markets
• offers the potential for reducing foam costs as use in automotive applications reaches critical mass

Ford Motor Company was the first automotive manufacturer to express an interest in soy foam for automotive applications and the first to demonstrate that soy-based polyols could be used at high levels (~40%) to make foams capable of meeting or exceeding automotive requirements. In 2004, a partnership was formed between Ford and Lear for the purpose of commercializing SoyFoam applications, with initial work concentrated on the molding of headrest and armrest components. Lear and Ford provides the industry with market ready applications for this renewable resource. Lear also is collaborating with the United Soybean Board - New Uses Committee Urethane Soy Systems Company, Bayer Corporation and Renosol Corporation on SoyFoam development.

"Our research and testing has proven that SoyFoam solutions will withstand a mass production environment and meet or exceed performance requirements," said Ash Galbreath, director of Lear's Environmental Comfort Engineering. "As a result, the recent breakthroughs in SoyFoam technology are of great interest to our worldwide customers," Galbreath continued.

For further information, visit http://www.lear.com/

SOURCE: Lear Corporation