SEKISUI develops automotive seat fabric that suppresses allergens

21 May '08

2 min read

Toyota Boshoku Corporation (Kariya-shi, Aichi Prefecture, President: Shuhei Toyoda), SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO LTD (Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture, President: Naotake Okubo) and Komatsu Seiren Co Ltd (Nomi-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture, President: Kenichi Nakayama) have jointly developed "Anti-Mite Allergen Processed Seat Fabric", the world's first (*1) seat fabric for automobiles capable of suppressing mite allergens with the potential to cause allergic reactions for use in the seats of new "Crown", launched by Toyota Motor Corporation in February.

As a supplier of automobile interior systems, Toyota Boshoku is engaged in positive technical developments with the aim of realizing "the Cleanest Possible Automobile Interior Space" and the development of an anti-mite allergen processed seat fabric is one example of this commitment. Mites or mite allergens are carried from the outside into automobile interiors on the clothing of passengers and are therefore found mainly on seat covers (*2).

This Anti-Mite Allergen Processed Seat Fabric not only reduces mite allergen activity by about 98% (*3) by application of "ALLER BUSTER" for automobiles, developed by Sekisui Chemical, but also provides long-term sustained effective suppression. Use of water as the solvent used to dissolve the base substance makes ALLER BUSTER an environmentally-friendly product.

Additionally, Allerbuster is applied from the undersurface of the fabric to provide suppression of mite allergen activity with no loss of the original feel, color or design of the seat fabric. Because, compared to application to the top surface, application to the undersurface inevitably reduces the detoxification performance, Komatsu Seiren's original manufacturing control ensures that the anti-mite allergen agent permeates to the interior of the fabric. As a result, the process of passengers getting in and out of the automobile together with vibration occurring when the automobile is in motion ensures that allergens pass through gaps in the fabric and fall to the underside where they are absorbed by the anti-mite allergen agent and suppressed.

The three companies, Toyota Boshoku, Sekisui Chemical and Komatsu Seiren will continue in their pursuit of providing comfort for people using automobiles and are engaged in the development of technology aimed at providing the optimum automobile interior environment.

*1: Study by Toyota Motor Corporation current as of January 2008.
*2: Based on the results of studies by Toyota Motor Corporation.
*3: Based on measurement values by Toyota Motor Corporation.

SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO LTD

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