Plastic Products for Automotive Applications

For the best in armored vehicle protection, LEXAN HLG5 is a laminated ballistic grade polycarbonate engineered to resist bullets and other physical attacks without sacrificing optical clarity.

Plastic bushings and bearings are used throughout vehicles to provide reliable, quiet, and long-lasting performance in many key mechanical applications while also reducing weight. Nylon and acetal are two of the most common performance plastics used to provide strength, wear resistance, and solid mechanical properties at a cost-efficient price point.

Plastic liners protect pickup truck beds from damage from cargo or the environment. Many drop-in liners are made from UV stabilized high-density polyethylene (HDPE). This durable plastic won’t rot or corrode and can protect your truck against physical damage and most chemicals it might encounter.

Plastics with insulating properties are often used in housings and shrouds to protect important vehicle components, such as fans, air conditioners, and electrical systems. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is commonly chosen for electrical applications because it combines low electrical conductivity with high impact strength. It’s also flame-retardant with decent heat resistance.

Plastic packaging called dunnage is used throughout automotive manufacturing and shipment to protect vehicles and their components from being scratched or damaged. The best dunnage materials are cost effective, easy to cut to size, and can be recycled at the end of their use. Many dunnage grades are even made of recycled materials. Twinwall polypropylene, such as Cor-X or Coroplast, is common for its lightweight, as ease of fabrication. For extra durability Bubble-X, features a bubble pattern structure that provides a great strength-to-weight ratio. For solid sheet, high density polyethylene is commonly used, and may be available in a reprocessed grade.

Lighter electric vehicles can go further between charges, so manufacturers are constantly trying to reduce the weight of each model. Batteries used to be one of the heaviest EV components until phenolics began being used in battery composite panels. With excellent insulating and flame-retardant properties and the ability to withstand high temperatures, phenolics are a safe and cost-effective way to significantly reduce battery weight and improve EV range and efficiency.

LEXAN polycarbonate sheet and film can be used throughout electric vehicle charging stations in both internal components and cabinetry as well as external housing and displays. A variety of specialty grades have the thermal and insulating properties and fire and UV protection needed to be safely used in electrical applications. A proprietary coating makes some grades UV, scratch, and vandalism resistant for long-lasting outdoor performance. This durable plastic is also available in both transparent and opaque grades and can be printed and thermoformed for unlimited design flexibility and easy fabrication. 

Fluid lines are hollow tubes that transport liquids like gas, water, coolant, or oil throughout an automobile. Plastics like nylon or PVC make excellent automotive fluid lines because they are flexible, won’t corrode like metals do, and are resistant to harsh chemicals like oil or gas.

Whether you’re looking to create a seal, distribute load, or position two objects, there is a performance plastic for your gasket, washer, or spacer application. Nylon is commonly used, while polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) may be chosen when you need a material that can withstand higher temperatures or remain dimensionally stable in a wet environment.