Innovation and sustainable development are megatrends that have been observed in recent years and the primary objectives of the automotive industry for 2020. As the industry goes in this direction, the amount of plastics in cars will continue to grow.
In the 1960’s, new discoveries in the field of polymers made it possible to develop thermosetting polymers such as polypropylene, a type of plastic commonly applied in modern vehicles. Its numerous mechanical properties, light weight, and the fact that it is 100% recyclable mean that polypropylene now makes up 40% of all plastics used in the automotive sector.
The fight against climate change requires global engagement. Of course, the automotive industry plays a leading role in this issue. Government regulations are forcing a deep transformation of industrial processes, and according to many analysts, this, instead of a transition, signifies a true revolution for the automotive sector. Electric vehicles or vehicles largely built out of plastics were considered a rarity just a few years ago, but now, they are a reality, and at the same time, a priority for carmakers determining how competitive they are on the market.
Similarly to previous years, the automotive industry’s efforts in 2019 were focused on reducing the weight of car parts for the purpose of improving their energy efficiency (it is predicted that this trend will persist in the coming years). This means lower fuel consumption by combustion engines and greater range for electrical vehicles. This goal can be achieved by applying lighter materials, such as thermoplastics, and particularly expanded polypropylene (EPP), whose applications are increasing with every passing year.
The widespread application of plastics in the automotive industry does not just enable manufacturing of lighter and more energy-saving vehicles, it also makes them safer. As manufacturers fine-tune designs and introduce new materials, prejudices like “the stiffer, the safer” are eliminated. In this sense, the role of thermoplastics like expanded polypropylene (EPP) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) is critical.
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