Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.

Shunichi Hamada

Akira Uchiyama

Katsuo Okamoto

Katsuyoshi Yonekura

Disclosed is a two-layer thermoplastic elastomer sheet comprising a skin layer [I] and a reverse surface layer [II], each layer being composed of a thermoplastic elastomer containing a polyolefin resin (A) and an .alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber (B), wherein a difference [(I.sub.B)-(II.sub.B)] between the amount (I.sub.B) of the .alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber (B) contained in the thermoplastic elastomer of the skin layer (I) and the amount (II.sub.B) of the .alpha.-olefin copolymer rubber (B) contained in the thermoplastic elastomer of the reverse surface layer (II) is in the range of 5 to 85 parts by weight. The two-layer thermoplastic elastomer sheet of the invention is excellent in vacuum forming properties and can provide molded products excellent in the soft touch and having appearance of softness, appearance of flexibility and appearance of warmth. The sheet of the invention can be widely used for interior automotive trim such as an instrument panel.

Two-layer thermoplastic elastomer sheet

A thermoplastic elastomer laminate comprising: a base fabric, a polyolefin intermediate layer formed on said fabric comprising a polyolefin, at least a part of which is modified by grafting with at least one monomer selected from unsaturated carboxylic acids and derivatives thereof, and a thermoplastic elastomer surface layer formed on said intermediate layer comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. The surface layer is comprised of a composition comprising: a polyolefin resin and an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer rubber, in which only said copolymer rubber is, or both said copolymer rubber and at least a part of said polyolefin resin are partially crosslinked. The product is attractive as an artificial leather.

Growing community of inventors

Ichihara, Japan

Shunichi Hamada