Cars have become a necessary part of daily life and manufacturers continually develop automobiles to fulfill the ever-growing needs of consumers. One of the reasons cars are constantly improving is due to the expansion of materials that make their multiple attributes possible. Plastic is one of these materials. It is lightweight, easy to use, and more environmentally sustainable than other metals. For plastic to be used in constructing several car components, it needs to be injected in molds specific to these parts. Because of this, cars will always need molding companies in China and other countries as suppliers.
Plastic is a very durable material for car designs
In the 1950s, steel was a popular car material. It was strong but very heavy, and its weight greatly affected fuel efficiency. More weight equals more fuel costs. Aluminum replaced some of the parts steel was used for, but it is still twice as heavy as plastics. In terms of strength, materials have been added to plastics, so its strength equals that of metals.
These materials vary from carbon fiber, plastic composites to the thermoplastic. Today, cars are just as strong as the ones before, however, they are more cost-efficient in terms of fuel consumption.
Cars are not only more attractive but also safer
It is no secret that designs play a part in the customer’s car purchasing decisions. Customers want their cars to resist scratches and dents for the longest time. Plastic, compared to steel, is more resistant to these annoyances. Manufacturers have been given more freedom in terms of styles and production, due to the material’s design mobility.
Molding companies in China, for example, work with these automakers to provide more and more molds that can provide innovative components. Lastly, plastics have allowed for more safety features, such as seat belts and airbags.
It is cheaper to use plastic than metal
Plastic can save manufacturers 25% more if they use it instead of metals. Although steel still makes up 55% of cars, they have started using materials like plastic for other parts, which has kept fuel costs lower for customers. Lastly, plastics make cars perform according to customer standards without sacrificing price affordability.
Plastic is beneficial to the environment
Manufacturers and suppliers have to worry about the environmental consequences of their creations. Therefore, they have to ensure that their automobiles have easily disassembled parts for easier sorting in recycling infrastructure. Plastic is a common material for these parts.
Apart from this, automakers have constantly thought of materials that use lesser fuel. They need to comply with standards of the fuel economy by ensuring that cars can run on 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Because of this, lightweight and strong plastics have become popular materials.
Key Takeaway
Cars are an important part of our daily lives and manufacturers are constantly finding materials that can be used to execute growing customer demands and different standards of society today. Because of this, plastic will always be essential to the automobile industry because it can effectively fulfill all of these.
