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September
1999
For Immediate Release
Thinsulate™
Insulation Drives into the Automotive Market
London... After
20 years in the fashion industry, Thinsulate Insulation, 3M's
famous lightweight thermal insulator is entering the automotive
market.
Thinsulate Insulation has been reengineered
to maximize acoustical absorption characteristics and designed
to serve as a lightweight sound absorbing material for the
automotive industry.
Thinsulate acoustical insulation is a stable
mat of non-woven, resin-free microfibers of polyolefin and
polyester. They are considerably finer than ordinary insulation
fibers, so more can be packed into a given space. This enables
the material to absorb noise more efficiently than virtually
any other sound absorber.
"Controlling noise in the passenger cabin
is an increasingly important issue for auto manufacturers
striving to build the brand image of their vehicles," says
Christine Shumsky, market manager, 3M Insulation Products
Division. "Thinsulate Acoustic Insulation from 3M is one of
the most effective solutions."
Tests by auto manufacturers confirm that Thinsulate
Insulation outperforms needled cotton (shoddy), open-cell
polyurethane foam and loaded vinyl in "acoustic weight efficiency",
an index measuring sound absorption coefficient per basis
weight. The product has been shown to excel particularly in
the voice intelligibility and wind-noise ranges.
To an automotive engineer, weight can be the
greatest threat to an innovative design. It can jeopardize
the handling, comfort and aesthetics of the most advanced
platforms. When compared to insulation of comparable acoustic
performance, Thinsulate AU Acoustic Insulation is nearly half
the weight of its nearest competitor, making it the lightest
acoustic insulation available.
"When auto manufacturers are ready to
raise the standard, Thinsulate Insulation is the product they
will want to consider," says Shumsky. "Its unique effectiveness
can make it a powerful tool for helping OEMs deliver on their
brand promise to the retail customer."
Thinsulate Acoustic Insulation is available
in four specifications for automotive applications:
AU 0920 90g/m2
AU 1220 125 g/m2
AU 2020-1 200 g/m2
AU 3002-2 300 g/m2
The above insulations can be used for a wide
variety of automotive applications including headliners, wheelwells,
door panels, door pillars, instrument panels and trunks.
For more information on 3M Thinsulate Acoustic
Insulation, call 3M Insulation Products Division at 1-888-3M HELPS.
Contact 3M Canada
PR department.
3M and Thinsulate are trademarks of 3M. Used
under license in Canada.
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