Fun Fact
More than 50 percent of a typical car is composed of plastics and polymer composites, but those materials account for only about 10 percent of vehicle weight.* *Courtesy of IAPD
Today’s cars contain more plastic than ever. Plastics weigh less than alternative materials such as metal, and less weight means less fuel consumption, which is attractive to consumers when deciding what model to purchase. It’s not just a marketing ploy – Federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards are becoming increasingly stringent, requiring car makers to improve the overall efficiency of their fleets. This further increases the drive to utilize lighter weight materials such as plastics.
Plastics are used in a multitude of applications in cars, including:
- Fuel tanks
- Cable insulation
- Carpet fibers
- Seating
- Wheels and tires
- Suspension bushings
- Dashboards
- Wheel covers
- Touch screens
- Headlamp lenses
- Truck bed liners
- Wheel well liners
- Mud flaps
- Fluid lines
- Internal transmission parts including gears
- Bumpers and other body parts
PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)
PVC-Acrylic
Silicone and Adhesives
PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide)
PI (Polyimide)
Polyurethane (PU)
PAI (Polyamide-imide)
PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)
PEI (Polyetherimide, ULTEM™)
Composites & Processing Aids
Nylon (Polyamide, PA)
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW)
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
LEXAN™ Polycarbonate Sheets
Acetal (Polyoxymethylene, POM)
Acrylic (Polymethyl Methacrylate, PMMA)
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Aluminum Composite Material (ACM)
Polypropylene Sheet, Rod and Tube
