BRIC Automotive Plastics; Help Increase Fuel-Efficiency by Reducing Overall Weight of the Vehicle

 

BRIC automotive plastics are an important part of the automotive industry and are becoming popular owing to the desire for lightweight and low carbon emission vehicles. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyurethane foam, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene are some commonly used automotive plastics. Automotive plastics can be used in a range of automotive applications, such as interior and exterior components. Automotive manufacturers are increasingly using such materials to manufacture interior and exterior components of vehicles, as they help increase the fuel-efficiency and reduce the overall weight of the vehicle.

One of the most common synthetic plastics used in the manufacturing of BRIC automotive plastics is thermoform, as they are flexible, lightweight, and durable. Such plastic materials are widely used for passenger vehicles. Some specialty plastics are also manufactured for certain applications. For example, there are plastics that are made for automotive bumpers and bodies. Automotive plastics are also very strong, durable, and lightweight, and come in a wide range of uses, which make them highly versatile. Therefore, automotive manufacturers are using such plastics as a choice of material for making their products.

The diverse applications of these plastics have made them very popular with both buyers and producers. The reason behind its popularity is the great demand that exists in the market for these materials. There are around 30,000 parts in a vehicle, out of which 1/3 are made of plastic. Moreover, around 39 types of polymers and plastics are used to manufacture a vehicle and around 70% of the plastic comes from four polymers: PVC, polyamides, polyurethane, and polypropylene. Usage of automotive plastics has significantly reduced the weight of the vehicle and enhanced the fuel-efficiency hence contributing to environment sustainability.

Automakers sold more than 17 million vehicles in the United States for a fifth consecutive year in 2019. Thus, demand for BRIC automotive plastics is increasing with increasing production and sales of passenger vehicles worldwide.