Profiled section, especially for a motor vehicle, and method for the production thereof

Abstract

A profile section ( 10 ) for a motor vehicle comprises a decorating portion ( 40 ), which is composed of a fiber composite material. The fiber composite material comprises an elastomer matrix made of a first elastomer and flock fibers ( 50 ). The flock fibers ( 50 ) each have a fiber length which is comprised of a first length and a second length. In addition, the flock fibers have one matrix portion embedded in the elastomer matrix and one exposed portion protruding from the elastomer matrix. The matrix portion has the first length and the exposed portion has the second length.

1 . A profile section for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a mounting portion and   a decorating portion;   wherein the decorating portion comprises a visible surface that is provided with elevations and depressions in order to increase the optical and haptic depth of the surface;   wherein the decoration portion is made of a fibre composite material that has an elastomeric matrix made of a first elastomer and flock fibres embedded in the elastomeric matrix;   wherein the flock fibers have a fiber length composed of a first length and a second length, respectively, and have a matrix portion embedded within the elastomeric matrix and an exposed portion protruding from the elastomeric matrix, respectively, for creating textile-like optics and haptic;   wherein the matrix portion has the first length and the exposed portion has the second length and   wherein the first length is larger than the second length.   
     
     
         2 . The profile section of  claim 1  including a sealing portion. 
     
     
         3 . The profile section of  claim 1  in which each of the elevations has a first cusp and a height and each of the depressions has a second cusp, wherein two neighboring elevations have a distance. 
     
     
         4 . The profile section of  claim 3  in which at least one of:
 the height is between 100 μm and 500 μm, wherein the height is measured orthogonally from a connecting line of two neighboring second cusps to the first cusp disposed between the neighboring second cusps and 
 the distance of two neighboring elevations is between 500 μm and 1 mm, wherein the distance is measured from the first cusp of one the elevation to the first cusp of the other elevation. 
 
     
     
         5 . The profile section of  claim 1  in which the first elastomer comprises at least one of a ethylene-propylene-diene rubber and a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         6 . The profile section of  claim 1  in which the first elastomer has a Shore hardness between 50 ShA and 85 ShA. 
     
     
         7 . The profile section of  claim 2  in which
 the mounting portion is made of a second elastomer and 
 the sealing portion is made of a third elastomer; 
 wherein at least one of the second elastomer and the third elastomer comprises at least one of a ethylene-propylene-diene rubber and a thermo-plastic elastomer. 
 
     
     
         8 . The profile section of  claim 1  in which the flock fibers include at least one of polyamide fibers, polyethylene fibers, mineral fibers and textile fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The profile section of  claim 1  in which the fibre length is between 0.1 mm and 5 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing a profile section comprising the steps of:
 a) creating a decorating portion having a visible surface and being made of a fibre composite material that provides an elastomeric matrix made of a first elastomer and flock fibres embedded in the elastomeric matrix in a way that the flock fibers have a fiber length composed of a first length and a second length, respectively, and have a matrix portion embedded within the elastomeric matrix and an exposed portion protruding from the elastomeric matrix, respectively, for creating textile-like optics and haptic and wherein first length is larger than the second length;   b) generating a mounting portion; and   c) providing the decorating portion with elevations and depressions in order to increase the optical and haptic depth of the surface.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising a step of:
 e) creating a sealing portion; 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising a step of:
 f) providing the decorating portion in a way that the elevations have a first cusp and a height, respectively, and in a way that the depressions have a second cusp, respectively, wherein two neighboring elevations have a distance. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising a step of:
 d) providing the decorating portion with a coating comprising at least one of a textured coating and a sliding coating. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  in which one of the following combinations of steps is performed consecutively without an intermediate step or simultaneously:
 I) the steps a) and b) 
 II) the steps a) and c) 
 III) the steps b) and c) 
 IV) the steps a), b) and c). 
 
     
     
         16 . The profile section of  claim 15  in which step d) is performed without an intermediate step after or simultaneously with one of the alternative combinations of steps I) to IV). 
     
     
         17 . The profile section of  claim 1  in which the flock fibres have a refinement of 0.1 dtex to 30 dtex. 
     
     
         18 . The profile section of  claim 1  in which the first length of the matrix portion is more than 70% of the fibre length. 
     
     
         19 . The profile section of  claim 1  in which the first length of the matrix portion is more than 90% of the fibre length. 
     
     
         20 . The profile section of  claim 1  in which the decorating portion comprises at least one of a textured coating and a sliding coating. 
     
     
         21 . The profile section of  claim 5  in which the first elastomer comprises at least one of a thermoplastic vulcanisate and a styrene block copolymer. 
     
     
         22 . The profile section of  claim 7  in which at least one of the second elastomer and the third elastomer comprises at least one of a thermoplastic vulcanite and a styrene block copolymer.