Automotive components composed of polyolefins

Abstract The automotive industry world-wide has, in recent decades, experienced a phenomenological growth in the use of polyolefins and polyolefin-based components and parts. Extensive use of polyolefins in automobiles not only helps to reduce weight and conserve fuel, but also provides added comfort and safety. Polyolefins make up approximately 50% of the plastics found in cars. Polyolefins and polyolefin-based products (composites, blends and alloys and hybrids) are extensively used in bumpers, dashboards and interior trim, and also in applications for components under the hood. It is estimated that the use of plastics (the majority of which are polyolefin-based materials), reduces the weight of a modern car by between 150 and 200 kg, with an estimated 800 litres of fuel saving, over the average lifetime of a car, and this translates to a significant reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. The lightweight attribute of these plastics (when compared to the traditional metal components) in automotives when and where they are maximally utilized, means that, on average, a car could use as little as 5 litres or less of fuel for every 100 kilometres and emit less than 120 g of CO 2 per kilometre. In addition to these attributes, their recyclability and relative ease of processing make them very attractive.