Market Trends of Canada Automotive Thermoplastic Polymer Composites Industry
Glass Mat Thermoplastic (GMT) is Expected to Grow with a Fast Pace
Glass mat thermoplastic sheets were first introduced in 1970. Considering the cost-related mechanical performance criteria, GMT composites are located between injection moldable, discontinued (long or short) glass-fiber-reinforced composites, and advanced thermoplastic with various fiber architectures.
Although GMTs are available in various polymer matrices and are dominated by propylene-based composites due to their low price. These are well capable of competing with other structure materials, primarily in conditions where temperatures lesser than 110°C are maintained.
Glass mat thermoplastic composites are witnessing demand from the composite market. They are easy to use, with superior mechanical performance.
- Mercedes-Benz selected two grades of glass mat-reinforced thermoplastic material, which are supplied by the Swiss material producer Quadrant Plastic Composites. These materials are used for manufacturing the innovative front-end module, which was designed for its S-class series luxury coupe. The new front-end module weighs only 3.4 kg, while the previous model used to weigh 5 kg.
Innovations and greater market penetration are expected to drive the demand for glass mat thermoplastic composites during the forecast period.
Transportation Sector to Drive the Market
The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standard forced manufacturers in the automobile industry to develop vehicle designs that incorporated high-performance, lightweight materials. The weight of an automobile include a direct impact on driving dynamics, fuel consumption, and agility. A 10% reduction in vehicle weights results in approximately 5-7% rise in fuel savings.
The rising focus on minimizing carbon emissions and enhancement of fuel economy, primarily by reducing the weight of a vehicle, is driving the demand for thermoplastics composites.
Continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRTP) are one of the primary materials that can address the rising concerns regarding a vehicle's weight. In combination with metals, CFRTP composites will be a part of a multi-material approach when designing the car of the future. These materials are developed and assembled with recyclability and sustainability in mind. In addition, the automotive industry standards will serve to align methods for characterizing the performance of CFRTP composites.
The automotive industry is undergoing a major transformation. As companies explore various options to address future needs, collaboration proves to be an effective way to discover new growth avenues while leveraging risk. The preferred approach is collaboration with strategic players throughout the value chain.
- For instance, DuPont Transportation and Advanced Polymers choose to advance through collaborative networks while actively participating in consortia, including IACMI (Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation) and AZL (Aachen Centre for Integrative Lightweight Production. It is where standardization is addressed, along with collaborative teams that are focusing on demonstrating the production methods of cost-effective CFRTP composites, especially for high-volume applications.
