Finally We Get Some Truth on Plastic Body Panels
Automotive body panels have been the Holy Grail for plastics for more than 50 years. And it seems as if I've been writing about it for almost that long. The whole idea took off with a bang in 1953 when GM engineers sheathed the first Corvettes with an FRP (fiberglass) body. It was light; it didn't corrode; it resisted dings; it was new.
The major producers of engineering plastics all set up development and sales offices in Detroit and went after the market with a full-court press. There were big successes, such as intake manifolds, fuel tanks, fascia, and instrument panels. But body panels were never a hit. FRP processes are slow and are still only suited for low-production cars. The injection molding of thermoplastics is speedier, but has not been widely used.
The reason? I haven't got one. But I still see the big plastics companies sponsoring concept cars with plastic body panels.
A new book by Detroit auto guy Bob Lutz, however, does get to the issues. Lutz has held executive roles, mostly in product development, with Chrysler, BMW, Ford, and General Motors. His book is called Car Guys vs. Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business .
He relates the story of how GM launched the Saturn in 1990 with thermoplastic body panels. The Saturn cars were the first to use all vertical body panels molded in thermoplastics. Saturn commercials used to show shopping carts bouncing off a Saturn without leaving any marks.
Saturns used Pulse alloy for the door skins, and GTX for the quarter panels. Pulse, sold by Dow Plastics, was a blend of polycarbonate and ABS (PC/ABS). GTX was a blend of polyphenylene oxide and polyamide (PPO/PA) by GE Plastics (now Sabic Innovative Plastics).
After reviewing the reasons for using plastic in the Saturn, Lutz states:
"In practice, however, the plastic panels were finicky. They took longer to produce than conventional stamped steel, and they grew and shrank when the temperature changed, requiring the cars to have wide, unappealing gaps around the doors, hood and trunk for clearance."
Plastics have a higher coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) than steel, and require more space to grow and shrink. Efforts to improve CLTE properties of plastic compounds with fillers and backbone tweaking haven't resolved the problem.
GM moved back to steel for body panels when it launched the Saturn Sky roadster, Aura sedan, and Outlook cross/utility vehicle in 2006, and the Vue CUV in 2007.
Automotive Body Panels - News
Automotive body panels have been the Holy Grail for plastics for more than 50 years. And it seems as if I've been writing about it for almost that long. The whole idea took off with a bang in 1953 when GM engineers sheathed the first Corvettes with an
It has been over twenty five years since thermoplastics have been first used for vertical automotive body panels. Thermoplastics offered promise of significant advantages in corrosion resistance, weight reduction and impact and dent resistance over
These transactions resulted in the contribution of the majority of the net assets and all the operations of the Metal Framing and Automotive Body Panels segments into two separate joint ventures ("the Joint Venture Transactions") effective March 1,
They also took a lap around the track in a school bus. “It's been overwhelmingly successful,” said Steve McCallister, auto body instructor for GST BOCES. “In one day they turned out panels I thought would take three days to do.
The Company's products include flat rolled steel, pressure cylinders, metal framing products, and automotive body panels. Worthington also provides technical services. McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC): Shares of McCormick & Company,
Episode 1 PART 6 Auto body Basics Seal and Paint Autorestomod.f4v ...
Www.autorestomod.com Rate us and comment! We want the feedback! Also subscribe so you’ll see what we’re up to. Part 1 of How not to die in a salvage yard segment from Episode One. How not to die in a salvage yard is an informative and fun video about being safe in a junk yard and getting the classic car parts you came for. Part 2 of How not to die in a salvage yard segment from Episode One. How not to die in a salvage yard is an informative and fun video about being safe in a junk yard and getting the classic car parts you came for. Part 3 Body work basics introduction, tips on what to look for in classic car paint and body from award winning restoration guru Alan Sheply. We also look at areas of concern on any classic car. Gaps in doors, leaded seams. Part 4 Body work basics, block sanding and priming. Part 5 Body work basics from Alan Shepley. Correct wet sanding, body prep and final prime. Part 6 & 7 Final Paint with Alan Shepey as well as how to color sand and buff your car. Up next in this episode An easy power booster installation for your vintage Mustang Restore Cars Fast! Check Out This Step By Step Car Restoration Guide!
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Automotive Body Panels - Bookshelf
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