Page 25 - Platics News June 2022
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INSIGHTS






         di erent from a traditional ICE vehi- such as polypropylene (PP) and polyu- the engine parts as the high temperature
         cle, with the main di erence being in rethane (PU) in recent years has par- performance of engineering polymers is
         the design and use of materials under tially been o set by the decline in con- not required in electric battery engines.
         the hood. However, electric vehicles sumption of engineering plastics, with  ABS consumption is expected to de-
         will not have fuel system, pump, tanks,  PP and PU accounting for about 50%  cline as polystyrene and PP composites
         connecting cables, etc. As the market of total plastic consumption in vehicles.   with improved properties continue to
                                                                                 replace ABS in decorative parts in the
                                                                                 interior, which was traditionally domi-
                                                                                 nated by ABS, especially in the United
                                                                                 States, due to the material’s gloss.  e
                                                                                 high price of ABS has also supported the
                                                                                 substitution with lower priced polypro-
                                                                                 pylene. In some high-end automobiles,
                                                                                 the consumption of ABS will increase
                                                                                 for the interior with consumers requir-
                                                                                 ing a higher quality design. However,
                                                                                 the overall consumption, particularly
                                                                                 in North America and Western Europe,
                                                                                 will be counterweighed by a reduction in
                                                                                 the size of certain modules, such as the
                                                                                 front grill, in turn decreasing the con-
                                                                                 sumption of ABS.  e growth in poly-
                                                                                 carbonate will be driven by the emerg-
                                                                                 ing application in car sensors (lenses)
         penetration of electric vehicles increas-  e consumption of engineering plas-  in autonomous vehicles, supported by
         es, polycarbonate (PC) consumption tics is expected to decline due to lesser  continued electri cation and lighting
         is expected to grow at a faster rate, as requirement of these plastics in under-  requirements in traditional vehicles.
         PC will be used in sensors and in LEDs  the-hood applications for electric vehi-
         in the car.  e application of polymer cles, as the high temperature resistance  Implications for Polymer Producers
         components within engine transmission  of engineering polymers is not required  Overall, the consumption of polymers
         will become more common as manufac- to the same extent as with internal com- in the automotive sector is expected to
         turers seek to squeeze costs and weight.  bustion engines. Instead, polyamides continue to grow globally  e growth
         But, the consumption of engineered will be used for battery brackets and rates will depend on the plastic type, ap-
         polymers will be counterweighed by the  housings in the EVs.            plications in the automobiles, interpoly-
         industry’s emphasis on light weighting,   Polypropylene demand will continue  mer substitution, as well as recycling
         resulting in smaller and lighter compo-  to grow as it  nds new applications in  e orts in di erent regions.  e growth
         nents.  e light weighting of the bat-  car interior and exterior, and under the   rates of plastics such as PP, PA, PC and
         tery pack in electric vehicles is viewed  hood replacing some metal parts. In ad-  PE are expected to increase with the in-
         as another important trend that will al-  dition, growth will also be spurred by  troduction of electric vehicles, while the
         low EVs to compete with cars using an   increased production of EVs, which will   consumption of engineering plastics is
         internal combustion engine.  e entire   require lighter parts to help o set the  expected to slow down. While  India is
         structure of the battery pack o ers op-  weight of the heavy batteries. PE con-  still considered to be growing  China is
         portunities of light weighting with the  sumption has also stayed  at as HDPE   expected to show higher growth rates
         use of engineering polymers and com-  gas tanks have already penetrated into  than in western countries, as its average
         posites.                            the gasoline tank market, displacing  plastics consumption is comparatively
                                                                                 lower.
         Changes in Polymer Demand Patterns steel in developed countries. Electric
                                             vehicles may, however, use more PE in
          e increase in consumption of plastics



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