Date of Award

2016

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.Sc.

Department

Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering

Keywords

interiors; plastics; surface damage

Supervisor

Edrisy, Afsaneh

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Nowadays, because of their light weight, superior impact performance, easy recyclability and low cost thermoplastic olefins (TPOs) have become the common choice for automotive interiors, but, due to their softness, these materials are weak to surface damage. This study investigates the surface damage response of TPOs. The influences of TPO types, textures, scratch additives and colors on the investigated surface damage and its visibility have been analyzed. The wear tests were performed in the rotational configuration, at room temperature and for three normal loads (5, 7.5 and 10 N). Textures characterized by large grains, deep depths and rough/round peaks have shown higher resistance to wear and to damage visibility. Among the considered geometrical features of the damage, the wear track depth have been found to be the most important for surface damage visibility of textured samples.

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