US chemicals and plastics producer Huntsman (The Woodlands, Texas; www.huntsman.com) has introduced a range of low-emission polyurethane foam systems for automotive interiors said to significantly reduce acetaldehyde and formaldehyde emission levels while delivering performance identical to contemporary PU materials.

Huntsman’s “Acoustiflex LE” foam system for automotive sound insulation components and its “Rubiflex LE” foam system for automotive seating are created with a new technology that differs from the fast-cure production process used by current PU systems which generally results in increased emissions. The technology contains what the company calls “controller elements” that act as a emission control system to reduce the release of unwanted substances without compromising other critical foam properties.

Huntsman said these are the first fully commercialised low-emission PU technologies on the market. Several global OEM and interior component producers are at the final approval stage for the materials, it added.