Safety
Q: What are the advantages of foamed plastic bumper bars to the manufacturer and the motorist?A: Front and rear bumper systems are designed for aesthetics; aerodynamics—which help improve gas mileage by reducing wind resistance—and, most importantly, energy management in case of a front/rear collision.
Today, the front and rear bumper fascias of nearly all vehicles are made of plastic. Its light weight, improves gas mileage, and only plastic can be molded into the complex shapes demanded by today’s styling.
The energy management foam that is located between the fascia and the bumper beam provides a crush zone that dissipates a significant amount of energy prior to energy being transferred through the bumper beam itself. This type of bumper system is designed to meet federal 5 mph low energy crashes without causing significant damage to the vehicle.
These bumper systems are costly for the car manufacturer but result in a safer vehicle that will be less costly to repair in the event of a low energy crash. In fact, auto manufacturers design cars and provide multiple safety devices to protect the driver and passenger in the event of a crash. Bumper systems are an important part of the safety design of a car—and plastics play an important part in that design.
Other FAQ Topics:
- General Plastics Questions
- Plastics Properties
- Plastics Processing
- Careers in Plastics
- Recycling
- Plastics & Life Cycle Analysis
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