Whether you’re revving up a high performance engine in a souped-up sports car or just taking the family van to the grocery store, one thing is certain:  Chemistry is essential in getting you where you need to go.

Today’s automobiles depend heavily upon chemical industry innovations to enhance the performance, safety and fuel efficiency of our vehicles.  On average, each car contains nearly $2,000 worth of chemical processing and products.  Almost 300 pounds of polymer compounds are used in the assembly of an average light vehicle.  Polyurethane seat cushions keep us comfortable on long drives while neoprene hoses, brake fluids, sealants, adhesives and coolants maintain vehicle performance and endurance.  Seat belts and air bags, two of the most important devices in automobile safety, both rely on polymer chemistry to help protect your life every time you travel. 

But it doesn’t stop with product innovation.  Chemistry also is addressing the environmental issues facing today’s automobile industry. In this regard, the industry has enabled vehicles to become lighter by replacing steel with high-strength engineered plastics.  This boosts fuel efficiency and reduces emissions without sacrificing safety.  Here are some of the other applications of plastics in automobile construction and design:

• Vinyl, derived from two simple chemical building blocks – chlorine and ethylene – can be formulated for a variety of important automotive uses. Proven to extend an automobile’s lifespan, fire retardant vinyl can be found in body moldings, windshield system components, interior upholstery, under-the-hood wiring, under-the-car abrasion coatings, floor mats, adhesives and sealants.
• Corrosion-resistance, durability and molding ease make a number of plastics perfect for under-the-hood use. One example is polyetherimide, which is used extensively in transmission components for its superior performance, and a single piece of nylon can replace several steel washers.   read more
• Polyurethanes are fashioned into seats that retain their firmness, shape and resiliency. Molded parts of this material also aid in shock absorption for fenders, bumpers and spoilers without adding weight. These parts perform better than metal and often do not require special fixtures to keep them in place.

In addition, polyurethane sealants and adhesives are used in the production of car lights and bumpers because of their bond durability, heat and ultraviolet resistance, and easy application.
read more

Polyurethane can also be found in windshields and windows coatings, providing a high gloss and durability, as well as scratch corrosion resistance.

• Today, most headlight lenses are now transparent, heat- and impact-resistant polycarbonate plasticpolyvinyl butryral, used as an inner layer, contribute to shatter-resistant safety glass in vehicle windshields. read more


• Two-thirds of today’s tires contain materials from the chemical industry. Tire dependability comes from styrene-butadiene rubber with added stabilizers and antioxidants such as phenolic resins. Strength and elasticity are the benefit of sulfur compounds added during the vulcanization process. Carbon black and silica make tires more tear and abrasion resistant, while whitewalls get that extra-good look from titanium dioxide pigments. The final touch? UV coatings that make the tires last longer. read more

So the next time you step into your car, or help your kids buckle into their car seats, know that the chemical industry is with you, improving the durability, safety and environmental performance of your car. The products of the chemistry industry will keep America moving while helping to maintain a clean environment for future generations.

« back