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Materials Substitution Trends in Global Automotive Bumper Systems
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English
Abstract
The materials and fabrication process candidates for the three key elements of a bumper system (fascia, reinforcing beam, energy absorber) are identified and compared. North American bumper systems are designed to resist 5 MPH (8 KPH) damage in specific pendulum and barrier tests. This voluntary practice has significantly affected bumper materials selection and systems design. The globalization of automotive designs and the manufacturing presence of Japanese automotive producers and their suppliers are likely to result in increased homogenization of bumper materials selection and design.
Plastics have reached high penetration in fascia, but reinforcing beams and energy absorbers remain dominated by metals. Rollformed steel offers major cost saving potential on some bumper systems. The key competitors in reinforcing beams will be S-RIM, GMT's and injection molded ETP's. The economics of current and future S-RIM and PP-GMT rebeams is compared. Differences in bumper materials usage in North America, Europe and Japan are identified, and the size of the global bumper market for plastics is estimated.
Authors
Citation
Eller, R. and Kirsch, M., "Materials Substitution Trends in Global Automotive Bumper Systems," SAE Technical Paper 880459, 1988, https://doi.org/10.4271/880459.Also In
References
- Marketing and Technology Potential of Japanese Autoplastics in North America Eller, Robert SPE RETEC-Detroit November 1987
- Material Substitution in Automotive Bumpers PTAI Multiclient Study 1987
- Walter G. Kunstoffe und Elastomere im Kraftfahrzeug Verlag Kohlhammer
- Polypropylene Globalization PTAI Multiclient Study 1988