Exatec® 900el - for a Pleasant Ambience On the Road
March 31, 2006
At the international "Plastics in Automotive Engineering" congress in Mannheim Exatec showed the prototype of an electroluminescent interior light-band in different colors directly integrated into Polycarbonate glazing panels. This is made possible by an electroluminescent light band, which is integrated by a special process directly into the perimeter of the transparent polycarbonate car roof. The roof was manufactured using the proven Exatec® 900 technology and the light band applied directly onto a film. The illumination intensity conforms to the legal regulations and does not exceed the allowed level. The new technology Exatec® 900el allows drivers and passengers to adjust the brightness of the interior lighting to suite their individual needs.
The electroluminescent light-bands consist of a stack of layers that work, in principle, like a capacitor. Between a front and a rear electrode there is a layer of luminescent pigment, which, together with the encapsulating product, forms the insulating layer (dielectric). When a voltage is applied to one of these electroluminescent cells, the color pigments begin to shine due to the current.
This technology is ideal for compact integration in the vehicle because the large luminous areas are dazzle and shadow-free and do not need to be built into the interior like a normal light. Other benefits of the Exatec® 900el technology are low power consumption, high ductility, the ability to withstand heat and cold and the fact that the luminous areas themselves do not heat up.
This product will be introduced to the general public for the first time at the trade show during the "Plastics in Automotive Engineering" congress. Clemens Kaiser, CEO of Exatec, comments: "This is another innovation from Exatec that demonstrates the enhanced options with Polycarbonate Glazing and provides more space to design the interior ambience of vehicles to the OEMs."
To Exatec® 900:
Exatec® 900 has been validated with specific grades of Lexan® and Makrolon® to meet the most stringent OEM requirements, establishing polycarbonate as an excellent glazing material. Current applications offer up to 50% weight reduction and windows with a truly three dimensional shape. This allows the integration of all parts usually attached to or surrounding the piece of glass in one single polycarbonate part.
