Teijin Limited announced that its V-Lap lightweight, sound-absorbing polyester material has been selected for use in the floor carpet of the new Mitsubishi Outlander, a midsize crossover vehicle. The floor carpet was developed by Hayashi Telempu Corporation, a manufacturer of interior automotive parts. The material was adopted as the sound-absorbing material for the carpet’s back side. V-Lap’s vertically oriented nonwoven structure performs as well as conventional sound-absorbing materials yet weighs only half as much. Teijin aims to expand the global market for V-Lap’s use in various sound-absorption auto parts, including ceilings and doors.
About V-Lap
V-Lap is a nonwoven fabric comprising fibers that are oriented vertically (upward). It is made with a unique manufacturing method to produce a structure that is bulky, lightweight and easy to mould. V-Lap was first utilized as a cushioning material for bedding and such, but its very good sound-absorbing property has led to its use in vehicles for sound proofing. Teijin is also developing V-Lap as a heat-insulating material for use in next-generation houses. Nonwoven products with added functionality can be produced through composite fabrication by bonding V-Lap to other films.
Sound-absorbing V-Lap polyester (photo: Teijin Limited)
