When airbag technology appeared on an industrial scale in the middle of the 1980s, the first bags were neoprene coated. Although the neoprene met initially the performance requirements of airbags, its efficiency was question- able in the long term. By the end of the 1980s, a new trend appeared towards silicone-coated fabrics. In the early 1990s, specific liquid silicone rubber (RTV-2) were developed for the airbag application. Being self bonding onto the fibre, they do not require the use of solvent during the coating process. In 1996, a New Generation of Silicone Elastomers for Coating was launched on the European market. Specifically designed to meet the airbag market evolution, these new products provide specific rheological properties allowing very thin coat- ing without any change of the technology or any use of a solvent.
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