First panorama roof with infrared absorption

Source：Ringier Plastics Release Date：2015-01-13 218

Plastics & Rubber

Webasto is supplying the first heat-absorbing panorama roof made of shatterproof polycarbonate that brings more light into the car interior

Webasto is manufacturing the fixed panorama roof for the third generation of the smart fortwo. The 1.2-sqm transparent roof panel is made of lightweight material polycarbonate (PC) Makrolon from Bayer MaterialScience. The roof system admits a lot of light into the interior, creating a pleasant, generous sense of space for the passengers. Visually, it is a perfect extension of the front windshield.

The technical highlight of the roof system is its ability to absorb solar energy and thus prevent the interior from heating up too much. In a nutshell, the IR rays stay where they belong: outside. This is made possible by infrared absorbers integrated into the polycarbonate - more specifically, into the granules the panels are made of. The product Makrolon AG2677 in the color and temperature-stable, heat-absorbing color 771079 is use on the new smart for the first time.

The infrared absorption is also beneficial from an ecological point of view. If the interior doesn’t heat up as much, there is less need for cooling from the air-conditioning system. And this reduces fuel consumption. With this innovative roof, Webasto and Bayer have reached another milestone in passenger comfort.

Webasto and Bayer MaterialScience

Lighter than glass
The material is extremely impact-resistant, weatherproof and lightweight. A roof made of PC is 50% lighter than glass. The plastic panel on the new smart fortwo weighs only 9.8 kilograms. Due to the low weight, fuel consumption is reduced while the roof also has a positive influence on the driving dynamics, as it shifts the vehicle’s center of gravity further down.

The roof is manufactured by means of two-component injection-compression molding. Besides the transparent Makrolon AG2677, the black-colored PC ABS blend Bayblend T95 MF is used. It enables the integration of additional functions such as screw bosses on the bottom side of the roof. Attached to them is the infinitely adjustable fabric roller blind used to control the brightness of the interior.

Webasto manufactures the PC roofs in its own lightweight competence center in Schierling near Regensburg.

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