Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 5.2
Common Plastics Components Used in Automobiles
Source of data: JRC (2007).
Plastic type
2001
(%)
2011
(%)
Where used
Polypropylene (PP)
22.1 23.9 Bumper, seating,
dashboard, fuel system,
body, under hood, trim,
electrical, upholstery, and
fluid containers
Polyurethanes (PU)
19.3 15.4 Seating and upholstery
Polyamides (nylon) (PA)
12.4 12.2 Seating, fuel system,
electrical components,
and fluid containers
Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)
7.9
7.9 Seating, trim, electrical
components, and
upholstery
(Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene)
copolymer (ABS)
7.4
6.4 Bumper, seating,
dashboard, trim, lighting
Polycarbonates (PC)
3.9 5.4 Dashboard and lighting
Polyethylene (PE)
4.4 4.8 Fuel system, electrical
components, upholstery,
and fluid containers
Other plastics
a
22.8 24
a
Includes composites based on unsaturated polyester, phenolics, acrylics, as well as
other thermoplastic materials (American Chemical Council, 2012).
5.1.2 Air and Sea Transport
Composites have been used in aircraft construction for several decades but,
until very recently, never in fuselage or wing construction. Conventional
aircraft such as B747 or MD80 include less than 5% of carbon-reinforced
composite. The new Boeing 787 commercial aircraft also called the
Dreamliner (and Airbus A 350), however, serves as a reliable window to
the future innovations in composite technology. These aircraft were made
of approximately 50% plastic composite material. Only 15% titanium, 20%
