Painted and color-impregnated elastomerics are used on exterior body components. Flexible urethanes, microcellular and injection molded, ethylene propylene terpolymer, thermoplastic polyolefins, all painted matching or contrasting body colors, color impregnated or painted vinyl and color impregnated ethylene ethyl acrylate are being utilized for applications, such as bumpers, stone deflectors, front ends, rear quarter extensions and body side moldings.
The initial incentive to employ color exterior elastomerics was to reduce damagability. In later years, government regulations, both state and national, dictated energy absorbing systems, and more recently the energy crisis, has prompted usage in some applications to reduce body weight.