Skin-like covering, especially for vehicle interior parts like arm rests, central consoles, door surfaces, instrument panels or the like of motor vehicles, and method of making a skin-like covering

Abstract

A skin-like covering, especially for automotive vehicle interior parts, like armrests, central consoles, door covers, instrument panels or the like of automobiles, has at least one pigment containing layer ( 11, 12 ) applied to a shape imparting surface of a liquid polymer reaction mixture. At least two layers ( 11, 12 ) are provided, namely a lacquer layer ( 11 ) of at least one layer forming the outer surface and containing the color pigment, and a support or carrier layer behind the lacquer layer and formed of at least one layer. The lacquer layer ( 11 ) and the support or carrier layer ( 12 ) are each composed of a reactive polymer aqueous single-component or multicomponent dispersion and a respective cross linker.

1 . A skin-like covering for automotive vehicle interior parts including arm rests, central consoles, door covers and instrument panels comprising an at least single-layer lacquer coating containing color pigment and forming an outer surface, and an at lest single-layer support or carrier coating lying behind the lacquer-layer and wherein the lacquer layer and the support or carrier layer are each formed of a reactive polymer aqueous single component or multicomponent dispersion and each contain a cross linker.  
   
   
       2 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 1  wherein a polymer component of the lacquer layer is comprised of acrylate or polyacrylate.  
   
   
       3 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer component of the lacquer layer is comprised exclusively of acrylate or polyacrylate.  
   
   
       4 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 2  wherein a polymer component of the support or carrier layer is comprised of polyurethane.  
   
   
       5 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 4  wherein the polymer component of the support or carrier layer is comprised exclusively of polyurethane.  
   
   
       6 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 4  wherein the cross linker of the lacquer layer is comprised of an isocyanate or of carbodiimide.  
   
   
       7 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 6  wherein the cross linker of the lacquer layer ( 11 ) is comprised of polycarbodiimide.  
   
   
       8 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 6  wherein the cross linker of the support or carrier layer is composed of an isocyanate or a carbodiimide.  
   
   
       9 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 8  wherein the cross linker of the support or carrier layer is composed of polycarbodiimide.  
   
   
       10 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 9  wherein the thickness of the lacquer layer ( 11 ) is between 10μ and 300 μ.  
   
   
       11 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 10  wherein the thickness of the lacquer layer amounts to between about 60μ and 90 μ.  
   
   
       12 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 10  wherein the lacquer layer ( 11 ) has a compact structure.  
   
   
       13 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 10  wherein the support or carrier layer has a microcellular structure.  
   
   
       14 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 12  wherein lacquer layer is formed by spraying the reactive polymer aqueous dispersion to which a pressurized gas and/or compressed air is supplied.  
   
   
       15 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 14  wherein the droplet size of the gas-supported and/or compressed air supported reactive polymer aqueous dispersion of the lacquer coating ( 11 ) amounts to about 5μ to about 100 μ.  
   
   
       16 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 10  which has a plurality of lacquer layers applied one adjacent another and to which different colors have been imparted.  
   
   
       17 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 10  wherein the lacquer layer contains a material component contributing to the light stability thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 10  wherein the thickness of the support or carrier layer amounts to about 0.3 mm to about 1 mm.  
   
   
       19 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 18  wherein the reactive polymer aqueous dispersion of the support or carrier layer is deposited with the addition of pressurized gas and/or compressed air.  
   
   
       20 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 19  wherein the droplet size of the gas-supported and/or air supported atomization of the deposited reactive polymer aqueous dispersion of the support or carrier layer amounts to about 5μ to 100 μ.  
   
   
       21 . The skin-like covering according to  claim 20  wherein the support or carrier layer is backed by a polyurethane foam.  
   
   
       22 . A method of making a skin-like covering for automobile interior parts including arm rests, central consoles, door covers and instrument panels for automobiles, in which at least one color pigment containing liquid polymer reaction mixture is applied to a shape imparting surface of a tool, said method comprising the steps of initially spraying a lacquer layer of a cross linker containing reactive polymer aqueous single-component or multi-component dispersion in one or more layers onto a tool having an engraved surface imparting an optional shape and surface structure which can include a leather graining to the laquer layer and subsequently spraying a support or carrier layer on a backside of the lacquer layer in one or more layers of a cross linker containing reactive polymer aqueous single component or multicomponent dispersion, whereby both the lacquer layer and the carrier layer are sprayed by means of pressurized gas and/or by means of compressed air.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22  metering of the material of the dispersion for the lacquer layer and/or the dispersion for the support or carrier layer is variably adjustable.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein the atomization of the dispersion for the lacquer layer ( 11 ) and/or the dispersion for the support or carrier layer ( 12 ) is variably adjustable.  
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24  wherein a spray jet shape and/or a spray jet deflection or direction of the dispersion for the lacquer layer and/or the dispersion for the support or carrier layer iE variably adjustable.  
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the material temperature both for the dispersion for the lacquer layer and the dispersion for the support or carrier layer amounts to about 20° C. to about 120° C.  
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein both the dispersion for the lacquer layer and the dispersion for the support or carrier layer are applied to an engraved surface of a workpiece heated to an Operating temperature of about 60° C. to 120° C.  
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein both the dispersion for the lacquer layer and the dispersion for the support or carrier layer are applied by means of a two-component nozzle spray head which preferably are movable in three dimensions.