Performance plastics play a huge role in automotive manufacturing today. There are roughly 30,000 parts in the average vehicle, and about 30 to 50 percent of those parts are made from plastic. Fuel efficiency, enhanced safety, and overall performance have all driven the need for the use of plastics in these automobiles, and as demand continues to rise, performance plastic solutions will continue to prove their worth.
Automotive applications require not only durability, fuel efficiency, and weather resistance, but must also be aesthetically pleasing to meet the needs of today’s consumer. Plastics and composites from Piedmont Plastics provide high performance solutions to the rigors of a wide range of automotive applications. These plastics can be used in a variety of automotive functions such as air deflectors, automotive covers and shrouds, cluster panels, dashboards, interior panels, trim, and splitters.
Common Plastics for Automotive Applications
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a versatile polymer that is probably the most widely used material in automotive manufacturing. Polypropylene offers benefits such as:
Chemical and corrosion resistance
High impact resistance
General impact resistance
A high strength to weight ratio
This material is also easy to form, easily welded and machined, and it comes in a variety of sizes. Some common applications include automotive covers, shrouds, and housings, racing splitters, valves and fittings, car bumpers, gas cans, and even interior flooring fibers.
PVC
PVC is a commonly used thermoplastic that offers excellent impact, corrosion, and chemical resistance. PVC is a highly machinable material, and it can be formed into flexible or rigid components. PVC can be found in automotive applications like dashboards, valves and fittings, and general automotive body parts.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a transparent plastic material with exceptional impact resistance, toughness, low moisture absorption, dielectric properties, and flame retardance. Polycarbonate is 30 times stronger than acrylic and over 200 times stronger than glass. It is lightweight, weighing six times less than glass. Polycarbonate can be used in automotive applications such as:
ABS
ABS is best known for its rigid design, impact resistance, low moisture absorption, and high heat tolerance. ABS is also cost effective and can be customized with color matching technology to meet the needs of the consumer.
ABS is well-suited for heavy-duty applications and does a superior job of absorbing and redistributing energy during impact. Common ABS automotive applications include steering wheel covers, dashboards, air deflectors, automotive covers, shrouds, and housings, dashboards, and interior panels and trim.
HDPE
HDPE is a versatile product with low moisture absorption, excellent impact resistance, high tensile strength, and good chemical and corrosion resistance. HDPE does not splinter, rot, or retain harmful bacteria. It is recyclable and extremely resistant to the harsh chemicals of cleaning solutions. HDPE can be used for applications such as air deflectors, truck bed liners, and food trucks.
The Safety of Plastics
Performance plastics are a huge reason why modern vehicles are safe today. As the need for transportation continues to rise, so does the number of vehicles on the road. Many automotive manufacturers promote the safety standards of their vehicles, and plastics have helped deliver on their promises. Seat belts made from plastic fibers provide durable flexibility and have helped reduce the fatality of frontal collisions by 30 percent. Life-saving crumple zones are made possible by the ability of plastics to absorb and cushion impacts. Window and mirrors made from plastic blends or laminate glazing make it harder for these applications to crack or shatter. These are only a few examples of how plastics can improve the safety of today’s vehicles.
Get In Touch
If you’d like to learn more about the materials we can provide for automotive applications, contact us today to speak with a plastics expert near you!
