Engineering plastics for the automotive industry

Journal Article · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Advanced Materials and Processes

OSTI ID:242190

Egelman, N ^[1]

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1. GE Plastics, Southfield, MI (United States)

Engineering thermoplastics are versatile polymeric materials that are known for their design flexibility, thermal and mechanical properties, aesthetic value, and potential for recyclability. The vast majority of automotive engineering thermoplastics are injection molded, although they are also extruded, thermoformed, and compression- or blow-molded. Compared with commodity plastics, engineering thermoplastics (ETPs) generally offer a better balance of physical and mechanical properties, broader thermal performance, and higher strength and impact resistance--the latter allowing for thin-wall part design and other manufacturing economies. Compared with thermosets, ETPs offer lower scrap and reject rates, reduction or elimination of many secondary finishing operations, and the advantage of melt reprocessibility.

• OSTI ID: 242190
• Journal Information: Advanced Materials and Processes, Vol. 149, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: May 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
THERMOPLASTICS
DESIGN
MANUFACTURING
AUTOMOBILES
WEIGHT
MOLDING
EXTRUSION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
IMPACT STRENGTH
QUALITY CONTROL
PERFORMANCE
SAFETY
COST
MELTING
RECYCLING
EFFICIENCY