As the global automotive sector grows rapidly, new energy cars have progressively taken front stage in the market as favorites. More and more consumers have preferred new energy vehicles since they save energy and safeguard the environment. Still, the creation of new energy vehicles has a lot of difficulties, one of which is lightweight attainment. In this sense, plastic modification technology and its additives are rather significant.

Fundamental ideas and categorization of plastic alteration

Plastic modification is a technical approach of improving general plastics and engineering plastics by physical or chemical means. Common modification techniques are mixing, filling, copolymerization and cross-linking. Mostly modified PP (polypropylene), modified PET (polyelene terephthalate), modified ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), and modified PA (polyamide) are the several forms of modified plastics.

Plastic modifiers’ purposes and classification system

Plastic modifiers are several compounds meant to increase plastic performance. Common modifiers run from compatibilizers to impact modifiers to toughening agents. Plastics’ hardness, strength, heat resistance, and impact resistance can be much enhanced by these modifiers.

Mostly used to increase the compatibility between various plastics, compatibilizers help composite products to work as they should. For instance,  plastic compatibilizer can considerably strengthen PC alloys and raise their whole performance.

Mostly used to increase plastic impact resistance are impact modifiers. Common impact modifiers include ACR (acrylate impact moderator) and MBS, methyl styrene-butadiene copolymer. MBS boasts good transparency and impact resistance; ACR has processability and impact resistance.

Mostly used to increase the toughness of plastics, tougheners help to make them less prone to break under external loads. For polymers at high temperatures, for instance, PARALOidTM impact moderator can greatly increase their rheology and stability.

Use of plastic modification in newly developed electric cars

One of the main elements in reaching a rise in cruising range of new energy vehicles is their lightweighting. Using modified plastics helps the vehicle body’s weight to be efficiently lowered, therefore enhancing its energy economy and endurance.

The battery pack casing of modern energy cars is made of modified polymers somewhat extensively. Higher strength and heat resistance after modification, for instance, can come from materials like PA (polyamide) and PP (polypropylene), therefore guaranteeing the dependability and safety of the battery pack.

New energy vehicles also have modified polymers in both its inside and outside trimmings. With good weather resistance and impact resistance, modified PP can be used, for instance, to produce components including dashboards and door panels.

Furthermore produced functional components of modern energy vehicles, like seat frames, suspension systems and other parts, can be changed plastics. To guarantee the safety and lifetime of the vehicle, these parts must be very strong, highly tough, and reasonably resistant to corrosion.

The function of plastic modification within the sector of new energy vehicles

Apart from enhancing the performance of new energy vehicles, the development of plastic modification technology has advanced the whole sector. In particular, plastic modification is rather significant for the new energy vehicle sector in the following respects:

Using modified plastics helps to efficiently lower the weight of modern energy vehicles, therefore enhancing their endurance and energy efficiency.

Modified plastics may satisfy the usage criteria of new energy vehicles in many conditions, have great heat resistance, hydrolysis resistance and impact resistance, and can meet product performance standards.

Optimizing plastic formulations and manufacturing techniques helps to lower material costs, so lowering the car manufacturing expenses.

Encouragement of technical innovation: The ongoing development of plastic modification technology has driven research and development and application of new materials as well as innovation and development of new energy vehicle technology.

Looking ahead

Plastic modification technology will open a larger development possibility as the new energy vehicle market grows steadily and technology keeps developing. Plastic modification will progressively enter additional application domains in the future, first in the direction of high performance, then in environmental protection and multifunctionality.

Basically, the use of plastic modification and plastic modifiers in new energy vehicles advances technology and development of the whole sector in addition to enhancing the performance and quality of products. Plastic modification will become ever more crucial in the field of new energy vehicles as technology develops and the market keeps growing.

The role of COACE products in new energy vehicles

Being a firm dedicated in the field of polymer material additives, we fully appreciate the need of deepening unique domains and fostering technical innovation in advancing the growth of the sector. For almost ten years, COACE has been making constant research and development investments. Our goods and technologies are also helping partners address technical challenges and together welcome the green revolution of the automotive sector, therefore supporting the growth of the new energy vehicle sector. Regarding new energy cars, our technologies and products promote the transition and upgrading of the automotive sector strongly and help to increase battery performance, vehicle weight, safety performance, etc.

Designed for vehicle door panels, COACE’s new PP-g-MAH compatibilizer boasts low TVOC, reduced residue, and a low odor.

Mostly utilized for PA/PPO alloys, this PPO-g-MAH compatibilizer improves the compatibility of PA and PPO by means of fuel tank lids, wheel hub exteriors, vehicle feners, etc.

Mostly utilized for nylon toughening modification, this product is a maleic anhydride grafted polymer with features of high elastic modulus, fatigue resistance and aging resistance of rubber and can be used for automobile cable ties.

We shall keep valuing concentration and creativity in the future, advance polymer material technology, and open more opportunities for new energy vehicles and more general fields. Working with worldwide partners to investigate the implementation of new technologies and support the automotive sector and the whole society to a greener, smarter and more efficient future excites us also.