A STUDY OF RIGID POLYURETHANE FOAM. VOLUME II. FINAL REPORT

This study has evaluated the applicability of rigid polyurethane foams to automobile structures for high speed crash energy management through evaluation of energy attenuation characteristics, pertinent material properties, availability, fire hazards, production process, repairability and disposability. Impact tests were made on elements to assess the effect various environments and conditions have on the energy absorbing characteristics of foam encased in a metallic structure. While loose shredded foam burns readily, sample tests indicate that foam surfaces exposed by rupturing the metallic shell in which the foam was encapsulated did not indicate any unusual burning hazard when it was soaked with gasoline and ignited. Full scale burning tests should be run to obtain the total effect of flammability and toxicity of decomposition gases of the foam in conjunction with by products of combustion from other materials incorporated in typical automobile structures and trim. In production, foam filling will require special fixturing to avoid distortion during filling and/or paint oven curing. Costs of representative structural components

• Corporate Authors:

  Budd Company

  300 Commerce Drive
  Fort Washington, PA  United States  19034

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Grasso, V A
• Publication Date: 1977-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 287 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Additives; Carriers; Chemical properties; Chemical reactions; Chemical synthesis; Coal; Combustion; Compressive strength; Crash tests; Crashes; Encapsulation; Energy absorbing materials; Energy absorption; Expanded plastics; Feasibility analysis; Fire resistant materials; Flammability; Flammability tests; Foams; Graphics; Highway operations; Manufacturing; Material aging; Mechanical tests; Metals; Motor vehicle bodies; Oil shales; Physical properties; Polyurethane foams; Polyurethane resins; Silicones; Stiffness; Surface active agents; Testing; Tests; Thermal stability; Thermoplastic resins; Tin; Toxicity; Water
• Candidate Terms: Highway economics
• Uncontrolled Terms: Destructive tests; Fluorocarbons; Rigid
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile bodies; Blowing agents; Combustion products; Energy absorbers; Flammability testing; Foam metals; Graphic methods
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00154854
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-HS-802-299 Final Rpt., TCR-0334-Vol-2
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-5-01261
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 22 1977 12:00AM