Polypropylene applications bumper fascia

Toyota, in conjunction with several Japanese resin compounders, recently introduced a super TPO, which consists of polypropylene islands in a rubber matrix. The resulting TPO is softer, ahs better scratch resistance, and is more easily molded for bumper fascia and interior applications than standard TPO products. 

Automotive industry is one of the largest applications for polymers, where innovative material designs are often introduced to tailor and improve performance. Of all, polypropylene (PP) is the material of choice for many car interior and exterior components. Additionally, PP can be blended specifically with olefin based copolymers to yield high performance thermoplastic olefins (TPOs). A good example is the impact modified PP-based TPO that has been widely used for bumper fascias. The importance of PP-based TPO as a material for the car industry is reflected by its current leading market share and further growth is expected in the area of interior and under-the-hood applications [1]. 

These trends are illustrated by DuPont Dow Elastomers range of Engage polyolefin elastomers, intended as impact modifiers for polypropylene in automotive bumpers and fascias. They combine stiffness with ductility, and are claimed to give very good low temperature impact strength. Engage 8842 is said to have a particularly wide range of applications. 

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