As vehicle performance improves, safety becomes ever more important. Due to weight saving measures designed to improve fuel economy, steel panels are becoming thinner, creating issues such as reduced rigidity and higher noise generation. NITOHARD, an epoxy foam reinforcement/vibration-damping material for steel panels, was developed using Nitto Denko’s original polymer technology in order to reduce weight while retaining rigidity. The resin expands with heat to 2-3 times its thickness and solidifies. In addition to increased rigidity, it also exhibits vibration-damping/soundproofing/heat insulation properties, leading to better comfort. SRC vibration-damping sheets and silicon foams for inflator spacers are also being adopted for airbags. Many other products contributing to increased comfort are being developed. For vibration-damping/soundproofing applications, <LEGETOLEX>, a lightweight vibration-damping material with a specific gravity of only 0.8 (buoyant on water) is ideal. <EPT SEALER>, an air-tight high performance sealing material, is available to protect the cabin from rain, wind, heat, and impact.