Welcome to the latest 4PLAS newsletter, this month we look to the future and the preparation for more efficient and smarter cars.
  
Automotive manufacturers continue to require more power from smaller engines and reduced weight. This encourages the use of more engineering plastics and 4PLAS has been expanding its range of performance compounds to meet this growing demand for smarter more efficient lighter vehicles.

To extract more power from smaller engines they need to work at higher temperatures. Therefore, engine components are required to work under higher thermal load, this in turn requires materials that have higher Continuous Use Temperature (CUT). We have 4TECH^® PPA & PPS grades that achieve CUT from 180°C to 210°C.

The growing use of hybrid technology presents additional challenges, whilst it reduces CO2 emissions, it requires high electrical power distribution through the vehicle. Along with the increase in sensor numbers and the use of more capable electronic devices, power requirement in the vehicles has drastically increased. This growth in power need also increases the risk of fire in the vehicle. When you include the elevated engine compartment temperature, new solutions need to be found such as our 4TECH^® PPA flame retardant grades
 
Vehicles continue to get smarter and more autonomous. Infotainment systems ever more complex and numerous. All these additional sensors, batteries, cables and screens increase the weight of the vehicle. So, the challenge is meeting all these needs without increasing the weight of the vehicle.
 
This requirement generates a greater opportunity for lighter higher performance engineering compounds. 4PLAS are already working to offer unique intelligent solutions through our extensive range and technical knowledge, to provide compounds for metal replacement & weight reduction projects.