Europe’s Auto & Aviation Industries embrace High Performance Polymers. Will the U.S. Follow?

Smoke and toxicity resistant properties have made HPPs valuable to the aviation industry. Photo credit: Shai Barzilay on Flickr via Creative Commons

The solution to a number of challenges in the automotive and aviation industries might be found in phenolic resins and high performance polymers (HPPs). In fact, manufacturers have started to adopt HPPs and phenolics into their products at a steady pace, according to a study by Frost & Sullivan.

Plastics break down into two basic types: thermosetting resins and thermoplastic resins. Thermoplastics are processed by common techniques like injection molding, extrusion and blow molding. These polymers soften when heated.

Thermosets, like polyphenols, set with heat and processing. These will burn rather than melt when heated. However, they will burn at a much higher temperature than most thermoplastics. This makes polyphenols the resin of choice for many high temperature applications.

High performance polymers of both classes, however, have superior mechanical, electrical and physical properties when compared to “commodity” resins like polypropylene and polyethylene, but at higher cost.

The new report, titled Strategic Analysis of the European Market for High Performance Polymers and Phenolics in Automotive and Aviation Applications, suggests that advancements in chemical and impact resistance, along with more appealing aesthetics, have made HPP compounds appealing to the under-the-hood (UTH) automotive industry. Similarly, HPP compounds come in handy to the aviation industry thanks to their smoke and toxicity resistant properties.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are constantly trying to find ways to lower the weight of their vehicles. As a result, composite and component manufacturers are trying their best to develop HPP materials that beat their metal equivalents in terms of lightness.

Source: Frost & Sullivan

"Further, the operating temperature in the engine compartment is constantly on the rise owing to OEM initiatives to reduce engine size," said Frost & Sullivan materials senior research analyst Soundarya Shankar in a statement. "The need for reinforced materials that can withstand high temperature accelerates the use of HPP in Europe."

Market Drivers HPPS and phenolics include:

· Advancements in technology related to manufacturing aircraft composite parts

· Regulatory trends enforcing a reduction of CO₂ emissions for passenger vehicles

· Lower maintenance costs and part consolidation

· Weight reduction and higher impact strength

Market Restraints Include:

· Inefficient reparability, recyclability

· Lack of standardization

· Slow growth in the European auto industry

· High fabrication costs

Polyphenol derived from a plant. Photo credit: Rohnjones

The study notes that glass and carbon fibre-reinforced materials are also gaining popularity and competing with HPPs for market share. Additionally, a number of phenolics and HPPs (such as polyether ether ketone, polyphenylene sulfide and polyethylene imine) compete amongst themselves.

Unfortunately, the high price tag remains a challenge. "Manufacturers must relentlessly strive to convince automotive OEMs and component manufacturers of the long-term benefits of HPP compounds," explained Shankar. "It is also critical for material suppliers to offer an optimum price-performance index in order to facilitate uptake in newer applications."

The report concludes that an increasing demand for customized solutions in the aviation and automotive industries could result in collaboration between OEMs and European component, resins and compound manufacturers.