Limiting energy leakage during laser scoring of vehicle airbag coverings

摘要

A covering (16) for use over a vehicle airbag (12) includes a skin layer (32) and an attached foam layer (34). The foam layer (34) is constructed from a polymer-based material that includes a polymer portion and an additive, and the additive may be selected to affect the energy transmission characteristics of the foam layer material (34) when the covering (16) is subjected to a laser scoring process that uses a laser light beam (108) having a characteristic wavelength. The additive may decrease the amount of light energy transmitted through the material at the characteristic wavelength to limit the amount of energy leakage from one cut location (44) to another during laser scoring. The decrease in light transmission through the material may be accompanied by an increase in the light absorption of the material, an increase in the amount of light reflected by the material, and/or an increase in a laser cutting rate of the material per unit energy.