Modified Plastics Used in Car Lights

The main components of automobile lights are composed of reflectors, lenses, casings, light sources, electronic circuits, and installation accessories. With the development trend of lightweight automobiles, the proportion of plastics in automobiles is getting higher and higher.

Why use plastic for car lights?

At present, the plastics used in car lights mainly include PC, PP, ABS, PMMA and a few other plastic materials. Plastic has the advantages of light weight, corrosion resistance, good impact resistance, high transparency, good insulation, low thermal conductivity, good mechanical properties, strong plasticity, molding processing, etc., and is increasingly used in various fields.

Application of modified plastics in car lights

【PC】

Polycarbonate (PC) is a high molecular polymer containing carbonate groups in the molecular chain. Polycarbonate is known as bulletproof glue due to its excellent mechanical properties. It has the characteristics of high mechanical strength, wide operating temperature range, good electrical insulation performance (but the arc protection performance remains unchanged), good dimensional stability, and good transparency. It is widely used in car lights and other fields.

PC accounts for about 50% of plastic materials in headlights. It is mainly used in interior mirrors, aluminum-plated decorative parts and exterior light mirrors of headlights and fog lamps. The bonding force between PC and aluminum plating layer is very good, and aluminum can be directly plated on PC substrate.

Headlights: Polycarbonate reduces weight and improves design

Headlight lenses made of polycarbonate offer automotive designers previously unimaginable freedom compared to glass, while significantly reducing component weight. In addition, polycarbonate meets stringent optical requirements for light transmission, high temperature stability and resistance to LED light. Because polycarbonate lenses can be machined into almost any shape, they can focus light more efficiently than glass lenses.

Taillights: Polycarbonate diffuser film meets signature look and design flexibility requirements

Polycarbonate diffusion films help manufacturers meet imaginative automotive OEM lighting design requirements with innovative solutions. These films are clear in color and offer excellent light transmission and diffusion. These features improve vehicle appearance and hide LED hot spots, thereby improving vehicle safety and enhancing design.

Generally, the film is placed behind an acrylic lens cover for LED backlighting. The material can be easily shaped and can be die-cut or laser-cut to achieve signature looks and design requirements. Laser-etched or embossed coatings can also enhance the scattering effect.

【PBT/PET】

PBT is commonly known as polybutylene terephthalate. The modified PBT has better mechanical properties (glass fiber reinforced PBT accounts for more than 70% of the market). Similar to PA and POM, it has small friction coefficient, good self-lubrication, good thermal and chemical stability, excellent electrical insulation, high rigidity and hardness, good impact, high dimensional stability, and good heat resistance.

PBT is generally used in car lights as decorative rings for headlights and brackets in adjustment devices. After PBT and ASA are modified and reinforced with glass fiber, they can be used to make fog lamp casings.

PBT is generally used in car lights as decorative rings for headlights and brackets in adjustment devices. After PBT and ASA are modified and reinforced with glass fiber, they can be used to make fog lamp casings.

【PC/ABS】

In the field of car lights, ABS is generally used after modification with PC materials. The proportion of PC content in ABS is determined according to the use temperature and impact performance. ABS and PC/ABS are generally used for taillight housings and trim panels.

【PPS】

Application: lamp stand, car lamp cup, car lamp cup reflective bowl, etc.

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