Johnson Controls Introduces New Headliner with 50% Biomaterials

15 January 2008

Johnson Controls introduced the Ecobond headliner, which is in the final stages of development, at the North American International Auto Show. The Ecobond headliner is a lightweight solution comprising 50% biomaterials by mass.

The production process for the headliner relies on soy-based adhesives, a soy-based urethane core foam and natural fibers.

The headliner is made via the use of an existing technology that Johnson Controls established for its Polybond process. Soy-based polyols are blended with petroleum polyols to create a foam core.

Natural materials—including hemp, flax and knaf—replace the fiberglass that is traditionally used in headliner production. A soy-based urethane is used to bond materials and create a semi-rigid product.

The Ecobond headliner meets customer requirements for stiffness, toughness and acoustics, but it lighter than standard thermoplastic headliners. Using the new Ecobond approach is not expected to add costs to the headliner production process.