Plastics have played a decisive role in making the car what it is today, and, as the future of the car is inevitably linked to weight reduction, plastics will be called upon to play an even greater role.

Solvay helps maximise the economic benefits that are derived from the inherent properties and processability of plastics, and from the easy combination of plastics with other materials to make complete components.  Solvay's plastics are found in interior and exterior applications, under the hood, in fuel system and in lighting arrays.

Inside the car
Solvay plastics are formulated for applications such as instrument panels and interior trim.

Outside the car
Solvay compounds perform in applications such as claddings and mouldings, and rigid specialty plastics are used for components such as roof racks, sun roofs and window encapsulations.

Under the hood
Solvay temperature-resistant plastics can withstand very high temperatures and years of intense jarring, vibration and chemical attack whilst maintaining their mechanical properties, such as strength and stiffness at high temperature and humidity.  They are particularly suitable for heating and cooling, air induction, and other structural components, as well as electronic components such as connectors, sensors, and fuses for circuit protection.

Fuel and oil handling
Fuel systems are demanding applications; components such as fuel hoses, oil retainers and seals have to withstand aggressive liquids and retain mechanical properties at high operating temperatures. Specialty plastics meet all of these requirements and perform consistently over the entire service life of the vehicle.  Moreover, Inergy Automotive Systems, a Solvay joint venture company, is a leading world supplier of integrated fuel systems.

Headlight components
Car headlamps comprise parts made of specialty polymers.