Auto parts are frequently seen in daily life. So what are the advantages of injection moulding car parts?
The advantage of using plastic as auto parts is that it reduces the weight of the vehicle. Lightweight is the pursuit of the automotive industry, and plastic can play a role in this regard. The specific gravity of ordinary plastic is 0.9-1.5, and the specific gravity of fiber-reinforced composite material does not exceed 2. In metal materials, the specific gravity of A3 steel is 7.6, brass is 8.4, and aluminum is 2.7, making plastic a material for lightweight cars.
Injection moulding automotive parts are easy to form and easy to process complex-shaped parts. For example, when the instrument panel is processed with a steel plate, it usually requires various plastic parts to be processed and formed first, and then they are assembled or welded with connectors. This requires many steps. Plastic can be used for one-time molding, with short processing time and guaranteed accuracy.
Injection molding automotive parts have strong corrosion resistance, and if partially damaged, they will not corrode. However, once the paint surface is damaged or the anti-corrosion effect is poor, steel is prone to rust and corrosion. Plastic has higher corrosion resistance to acid, alkali, and salt than steel plates. If plastic is used as a body cover, they are very suitable for areas with large pollution.
Injection moulding car parts absorb a lot of collision energy through their elastic deformation characteristics, which greatly cushions strong impacts and protects vehicles and passengers. Therefore, pliable dashboards and steering wheels with increased flexibility are used in modern cars to enhance cushioning effects. The front and rear bumpers as well as body parts are all made of plastics to reduce external objects' impact on the car's sound. In addition, plastic injection automotive parts also have the function of absorbing and reducing vibration and noise, thereby improving ride quality.
Automotive engine components can be prepared with plastics by adding different fillers, plasticizers, and hardeners to produce plastics with desired properties, change the mechanical strength and processing performance of materials to meet the requirements of different parts on vehicles. For example, bumpers must have considerable mechanical strength, while cushions and backrests are made of soft polyurethane foam. Moreover, plastic colors can be tuned through additives to eliminate the trouble of painting.