Automotive Plastic Design: Introduction #automotive #plastic

#3dexperience #catiav5 #catiav5tutorial #cadcam #plasticparts #automotive Introduction to Automotive Plastic parts, and its importance in the Automotive industry. From last ten decades, In the almost all products, the traditional materials have been substituted by plastics. Today, we are surrounded by lots of products which are made up of 50 to 100% of plastic components, and automotive industry is not exception for this. Now a days, Car is made up of around 30,000 components and out of that around 1/3 parts are plastics which is an average 10-12% of total weight of vehicle. Automotive industry is 3rd largest consumer of plastics in the world after packaging and construction. Plastic has unique, and key combinations of properties, which provides solutions to demanding challenges into the automotive industry. Benefits of using plastics in the automotive industry. 1.Plastic Improves Fuel Efficiency: Plastic components weigh 50% less than similar components made from other materials which contribute a 25 to 35% improvement in fuel economy. One study says, it is estimated that 100 kg of plastics have replaced 200 to 300 kg of conventional materials in the modern car. This weight saving is estimated to reduce fuel consumption by 750 liters over a life span of 150000 kilometers. 2.Plastic Facilitates Innovation & Complex Design: Plastic can be molded more easily into any complex shape, which allow designers to create innovative concepts, and more comfortable human-ergonomic features, at a decreased cost. For example, in the modern cars, the Plastics have replaced glass parts like headlights, taillights, foglamps. it has also replaced metal parts like bumpers, and some exterior body panels of the car. which allows greater design freedom, to create very modern, more streamlined and aerodynamic car body shapes. 3.Plastic provides the Cost-effective design: Most of plastic parts get produced in the one shot and in short cycle times by using injection molding process. By using plastics, we can eliminate some costly secondary operations like machining, painting etc. for example, to get colored parts, plastic pallets can be colored with color concentrates before molding which eliminates painting. For assembly, the attachment features of the injection-molded parts like snap-fit connections, hooks, clip towers eliminate welded joints and fasteners. Collectively, these all reduces production, and manufacturing costs, that reduces the final cost of the car, which benefits the buyers. For example, Plastics throttle bodies are 40 percent lighter than their aluminum counterparts, and cost up to 40 percent less. 5. Plastic Improves car Safety: The safety features in your car such as airbags, and seatbelts are made from durable polyester. Plastics components maintain the balance between safety, and lightweight efficiency without compromising safety features, so in an accident, these polymer-based safety features, and exterior items such as door cladding, and bumpers can take an impact far better than metal. For example, A plastic fuel tank. Since, A plastic fuel tank can be manufactured as a single part without weld seams, there are no seams to fail in a collision. Another benefit of a Plastic fuel tank is plastic acts as an insulator to retard heat transfer to the fuel when compared to a steel tank, which Suppresses the explosion risks in fuel tanks. 6. Plastic Makes car more durable: Many plastics can withstand extreme weather conditions, such as intense sunlight UV rays, rapid temperature swings, and extreme dry and wet conditions. In addition, plastics coating on metal surfaces reduces the chance of corrosion due to salt damage, extreme heat, and water exposure. Glass windshields of the car are coated with plastic film to improve weather resistance, wear, and tear, and reduce the chance of shattering. Plastics can maintain their integrity over a temperature range of -40° to +200°Fahrenheit without compromise in performance so it can be used in Under the hood applications, these Under the hood parts are either coated or made entirely from plastics such as polyurethane which is heat-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and flexible. Now a days, car makers are using a Plastic Paint which is 15 times thicker than traditional paint and more resistant to scratches, chips, and UV degradations, retaining a high-gloss shine longer than traditional paint. These all applications contribute significantly to extending the car’s life. These all are some of the major factors which is contributing to the continuous growth of the plastics market.