Future of plastics in the automotive industry

The automotive industry has grown to appreciate the potential of plastics as replacements for metal components within their products. The realization that plastics are,in their own right,engineering materials of high merit has led to rapid advancement of material and application technology,with the end result that plastics have gained a firm and increasing footing in the motor vehicle. Many factors have aided the adoption of plastics by the automotive industry,which uses them in the following areas:body,chassis,engine,electrical system,interior and vehicle accessories. Lower costs of plastics parts must,of course,be the major contributing factor in the replacement of existing parts, and this is closely followed by the ease with which modern plastics can be formed by comparatively inexpensive tooling. The inert properties of syn- thetic materials also contribute greatly; properties like corrosion resistance,low friction coefficients and light weight are of prime importance.
The use of plastics in the automotive industry continues to accelerate at a phenomenal rate as research into plastic technology results in new developments and applications. The future growth of plastics in the automotive industry will be controlled by two factors:the growth of the industry itself,and the greater penetration of plastic per car. A key constituent in world growth,therefore,is the developing nations who are involved in the assemblyandproduction of motor vehicles. They will consequently favourthe use of plastics as a first choice,rather than as a replacement for metal.

Over the past years,the natural applications for plastics in automobiles (interior fittings,cushioning and upholstery,trim,tail lights,electrical components) have become saturated. The growth for the future can be expected to come from the use of plastic for bodywork and some mechanical components. Already there is a widespread use of plastics for front and rear bumpers. We can expect to see bonnets,boot lids and front wings in plastics.
All the major volume producers of cars are engaged in long-term development work towards the all-plastic car. Whether or not such targets can be realized remains to be seen. Factors such as energy costs and availability of resources may play a greater part in the total picture than simple objects like vehicle weight reduction.
Abbreviations for automotive plastics