Exterior panels for motor vehicles
AssigneeMagna International of America, Inc.
InventorPhillip S. Wilson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exterior panel (10) for a motor vehicle has a coefficient of linear thermal expansion of less than 20×10−6 inches of expansion per inch material per degree Fahrenheit. The exterior panel (10) comprises a rigid structure (14) formed from at least one thermoplastic material and reinforcement particles dispersed within the at least one thermoplastic. The reinforcement particles comprise less than 15% of a total volume of the rigid structure. At least 40% of the reinforcement particles have a thickness less than about 50 nanometers. A decorative coating layer (12) having at least one coloring agent is disposed on the rigid structure (14).
Claims12
An exterior panel for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a rigid structure having a rigidity sufficient for said rigid structure to be used as said exterior panel for a motor vehicle and being formed from at least one thermoplastic material and reinforcement particles dispersed within the at least one thermoplastic material, said reinforcement particles comprising less than 15% of a total volume of the rigid structure, at least 40% of the reinforcement particles having a thickness less than about 50 nanometers, said rigid structure having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion of less than 20×10−6 inches of expansion per inch material per degree Fahrenheit, and a decorative coating layer having at least one coloring agent disposed on the rigid structure and being suitable for use as an exterior motor vehicle finish.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.