Abstract: Weather stripping for use in sealing an interface between selected vehicle portions is made using a thermoplastic material such as TPV with a supercritical fluid introduced during the manufacturing process to provide a microcellular structure. The microcellular structure of one example implementation of this invention includes a cell density in a range from about 109 to about 1015 per cubic centimeter. Average cell sizes preferably are less than 2 microns. A preferred range in one example is between about 0.1 micron and about 1.0 micron. The inventive design provides superior performance with cost savings compared to rubber weather stripping.

Abstract: Weather stripping for use in sealing an interface between selected vehicle portions is made using a thermoplastic material such as TPV with a supercritical fluid introduced during the manufacturing process to provide a microcellular structure. The microcellular structure of one example implementation of this invention includes a cell density in a range from about 109 to about 1015 per cubic centimeter. Average cell sizes preferably are less than 2 microns. A preferred range in one example is between about 0.1 micron and about 1.0 micron. The inventive design provides superior performance with cost savings compared to rubber weather stripping.