With the automotive industry rapidly shifting towards hybrid and electric vehicles (HEVs and EVs), the demand for innovative plastic materials and additives is skyrocketing. As prioritize safety, efficiency, and sustainability, how can your products stay ahead of this transformative wave?
Types of Plastics for Electric Vehicles:
1. Polypropylene (PP)
Key Features: PP is increasingly used in EV battery packs due to its excellent chemical and electrical resistance at high temperatures. Its lightweight nature helps reduce overall vehicle weight, enhancing energy efficiency.
Market Impact: Global PP consumption in light vehicles is projected to rise from 61 kg per vehicle today to 99 kg by 2050, driven by greater EV adoption.
2. Polyamide (PA)
Applications: PA66 with flame retardants is used for busbars and battery module enclosures. Its high melting point and thermal stability are essential for protecting against thermal runaway in batteries.
Benefits: PA66 maintains electrical insulation during thermal events, preventing the spread of fires between battery modules.
3. Polycarbonate (PC)
Advantages: PC’s high strength-to-weight ratio contributes to weight reduction, improving energy efficiency and driving range. Its impact resistance and thermal stability make it suitable for critical components like battery housings.
4. Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)
Durability: TPU is developed for various automotive components due to its flexibility and abrasion resistance. New grades with recycled content align with sustainability goals while maintaining performance.
5. Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE)
Properties: TPEs combine the characteristics of rubber and plastic, offering flexibility, durability, and ease of processing. They are increasingly used in seals and gaskets, enhancing vehicle longevity and performance.
6. Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics (GFRP)
Strength and Weight Reduction: GFRP composites, reinforced with glass fibers, provide high strength-to-weight ratios for structural components and battery enclosures, enhancing durability while minimizing weight.
7. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP)
High Performance: CFRP offers superior strength and rigidity, making it ideal for high-performance applications, including electric vehicle frames and critical structural parts.
8. Bio-Based Plastics
Sustainability: Bio-based plastics like polylactic acid (PLA) and bio-based polyethylene (bio-PE) reduce the carbon footprint of vehicle production and are suitable for interior components, contributing to a more eco-friendly lifecycle.
9. Conductive Plastics
Applications: With increasing reliance on electronic systems in EVs, conductive plastics enhanced with carbon black or metal additives are vital for battery casings, wiring harnesses, and sensor housings.
10. Nanocomposites
Enhanced Properties: Incorporating nanoparticles into traditional plastics improves their mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. These materials are ideal for critical components like body panels, enhancing fuel efficiency and driving range.
Innovative Plastic Additives in EVs:
1. Fluorosulfate-Based Flame Retardants
Researchers at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) have developed the world’s first fluorosulfate-based flame retardant additive. This additive significantly improves flame retardant properties and electrochemical stability compared to conventional phosphorous flame retardants like triphenyl phosphate (TPP).
Benefits: The new additive enhances battery performance by 160% while increasing flame retardant properties by 2.3 times, minimizing interfacial resistance between the electrode and electrolyte. This innovation aims to contribute to the commercialization of safer lithium-ion batteries for EVs.
SILIKE silicone additives provide solutions for hybrid and electric vehicles, protecting the most sensitive and essential components with a focus on reliability, safety, comfort, durability, aesthetics, and sustainability.
Key Solutions for Electric Vehicles (EVs) Include:
Anti-scratch Silicone Masterbatch in automotive interiors.
- Benefits: Provides long-lasting scratch resistance, enhances surface quality, and features low VOC emissions.
- Compatibility: Suitable for a wide range of materials, including PP, PA, PC, ABS, PC/ABS， TPE, TPV, and other modified materials and composite.
Anti-Squeak Silicone Masterbatch in PC/ABS.
- Benefits: effectively minimizing noise of PC/ABS.
Si-TPV (Vulcanized Thermoplastic Silicone-Based Elastomers) – future of Modified TPU Technology
- Advantages: Balances reduced hardness with enhanced abrasion resistance, achieving a visually appealing matte finish.
Talk to SILIKE to discover which silicone additive grade works best for your formulation and stay ahead in the evolving electric vehicles (EVs) automotive landscape.
Email us at: amy.wang@silike.cn
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