The current and future market for thermoplastic elastomers in automotive applications

摘要

One of the reasons for this high growth is the need to reduce the weight of vehicles, particularly passenger vehicles. Much of this need will be achieved by the replacement of classic vulcanised elastomers. As well as weight reduction, recyclability is a major issue, which cannot be correctly addressed by vulcanised elastomers. This move is primarily based on the European Union's directive concerning end of life vehicles (ELV). There have been several directives of this nature, each dealing with a different aspect of treating vehicles which have reached the end of their useful life. This EU Directive is of particular importance, since it covers the reusability, recyclability and recoverability of vehicles at the end of their life. Only vehicles are allowed to be put on the market if they are reusable and/or recyclable to a minimum of 85 °/o by mass and are reusable and/or recoverable to a minimum of 95 °/o also by mass. All thermoplastic elastomers meet these requirements; vulcanised elastomer cannot entirely.