The Growth of Stampable Thermoplastic Sheet in Automotive Applications

The stamping of thermoplastic sheet is gaining acceptance in the automobile industry. The process has been used in consumer product areas which are less demanding than automotive, but this has demonstrated process viability. As the process gains in acceptance, special materials are being developed for stamping of components which have properties required for specific applications. There are several variations of the basic process as related to the product, material, and equipment. The definite advantage of stamping is rapid cycle time. In-the-mold decorating and pre-decorated materials will provide further applications in trim components. Stamping of thermoplastic provides an additional tool for automotive engineers.