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Plastics, A Material of Choice For The Automotive Industry
Plastics, A Material of Choice For The Automotive Industry
27/08/1999
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Pagina 2
he demands on the modern automotive industry are ever challenging motorists want high performance cars but at the same time they are looking for improved
reliability and safety, greater comfort, fuel efficiency, style, competitive pricing and, increasingly, reassurance about environmental impact. There is one family of
materials that is rising to the challenge of these potentially conflicting demands: plastics. With their unique combination of properties they are key to providing
technological innovation with cost-efficiency and sustainability in mind.
Under the
bonnet
components
2.5kg
Growing demand
the challenges in
performance in a cost-effective
and environmental
requirements. It also
performance further.
Body,
including
body panels
3kg
Dashboard
3kg
Seats
1.5kg
consumption and
recovery of plastics and
sustainable development
Upholstery
Fuel systems
4kg
Bumper
10kg
Lighting
1.5kg
Battery
Underbody
protection
consumption
Total direct weight reduction 26.5kg
emphasis should be
environmental gain
and innovation.
Research commissioned by APME on plastics consumption undertaken by TN Sofres Consulting and on plastics waste from end-of-life vehicles by Mavel
Exterior trim
1kg
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Technological innovation by the plastics industry is a key feature in the continuing development and use of plastics in cars. Today, they provide multi-component, tailormade solutions for many new requirements, replacing more traditional and heavier materials in the process.
INNOVATIVE DESIGN
plastics such as
polybutyleterephthalate, aliphatic
Innovations include:
chemical-resistance increases.
Freedom of design
Plastics have replaced glass in the headlights of the Mercedes Benz S Class, allowing
greater design freedom as well as offering a clear, easy-to-fit, scratch-resistant and
strong alternative.
INCREASED SAFETY
Thanks to their strength and impact
nor fracture
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save resources.
Transport
29%
14%
development of polyetherimide
46%
cent less
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
Renaults new Clio takes full advantage of the versatility of plastics. Accounting for
more than 10 per cent of its total weight, plastics provide a different benefit for every
application. Their use in the cars wings has dramatically increased their shock
resistance. They have also enabled better design of the intake manifold and a more
cost-effective fuel system.
Plastics 4%
Petrochemicals 7%
Weight reduction
Plastics are increasingly replacing metal under the
bonnet. For example, plastics throttle bodies are 40 per
cent lighter than their aluminium counterparts and cost
up to 40 per cent less.
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Plain steel
18%
Steel sheet
Adhesives/paints 3.0%,
glass 2.9%, textiles 0.9%,
fluids 0.9%, miscellaneous 2%
41%
Others
9.7%
PP, ABS, PC
10.0
13.0
15.0
7.0
PP, PPE, UP
6.0
9.0
20.0
7.0
Exterior trim
4.0
Lighting
5.0
8.0
PP, PE, PA
1.0
Plastics
9.3%
Bumpers
Seats
Dashboard
Fuel systems
Interior trim
Electrical components
Zinc, copper,
magnesium,
lead
2%
Rubber
Cast iron
Aluminium
5.6%
6.4%
8%
Seats
(eg PUR, PP, PVC)
Bumpers
(eg PP)
Upholstery
(eg PVC, PUR)
12.3%
9.5%
8%
Dashboard
(eg PP, ABS)
14.2%
Upholstery
Other reservoirs
Total
105.0
Interior trim
(eg PP, ABS)
19%
4
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The study by Mavel, commissioned by APME, examined in detail the use of plastics in the
automotive industry in France, Germany and Italy compared to the Western European average.
1998
98
2002
104
79
98
389 000
SWEDEN
80
100
2 220 000
1 964 028
UNITED KINGDOM
77
39
5 254 103
5 409 000
GERMANY
39
2 988 878
47
Italy
3 295 000
FRANCE
Germany
1 669 021
2 842 566
90
I TA LY
19
France
80
19
70
19
5
1 849 000
2 769 000
Western Europe
S PA I N
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air quality
Western Europe.
efficiencies
As previously mentioned, it is
end of life.
performance.
Prevention reducing the use
environmental gain.
6
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Plastics recovery
MECHANICAL RECYCLING
Material reprocessing of
waste plastics by physical
means into plastics products.
MATERIAL RECYCLING
Reprocessing in a production process
of waste plastics for the original purpose
or for other purposes excluding direct
energy recovery.
FEEDSTOCK RECYCLING
Material reprocessing of
waste plastics by chemical
means into basic chemicals,
monomers for plastics or
hydrocarbon feedstock.
End-of-Life Vehicles.
RECOVERY
1.2
Others
1.0
Millions
0.8
0.6
0.4
United Kingdom
Italy
Germany
0.2
France
ENERGY RECOVERY
Plastics are made from oil
this gives them a calorific
value equal to or greater
than coal. This energy
value can be recovered
via combustion.
MUNICIPLE SOLID WASTE (MSW)
The incineration of plastics waste along with
other materials in MSW can safely and cleanly
generate heat and/or power.
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
8
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Less than 1 per cent of all waste generated in Western Europe is plastics. Of this, just a tiny fraction is automotive plastics waste.
FIAT has collated information about the
MATERIAL RECYCLING
increasing recycling.
from landfill
ENERGY RECOVERY
OF
WHICH
<1%
Total post-user
plastics waste
17 454 000 tonnes
Proportion of
plastics*
Automotive
(796 000 tonnes)
4%
environmental impacts
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emissions of CO2.
Plastics-based composite
the future.
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ASSOCIATION OF PLASTICS
MANUFACTURERS IN EUROPE
Box 3
B-1160 Brussels
Internet http://www.apme.org
XXXX/GB/09