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Structures & Modules
Top automotive industry trends are placing new demands on structures and modules such as liftgates, front-end modules, brackets, roof frames and body-in-white (BIW) reinforcement modules. Electrification is leading to architecture changes that affect these components; sustainability goals of lower carbon emissions and fuel use are tied to weight reduction; autonomous driving is encouraging part and function integration, particularly for ADAS units; and cost pressures are prompting requirements for easier manufacturing and greater modularity.
SABIC’s broad range of automotive materials, from polypropylene (PP) to engineering resins and compounds, meet key requirements for structures and modules that are used in the BIW or added during final assembly. Their properties include stiffness; strength; resistance to impact, temperature extremes and chemicals; and desirable aesthetics. To support our materials, SABIC offers broad automotive application knowledge and experience and specialized application development tools for performance and process optimization.
Featured Product Brands
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SABIC® PP compound |
Short glass fiber-reinforced PP compounds for applications requiring stiffness and excellent chemical resistance. |
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STAMAX™ |
Long glass fiber-reinforced PP materials for hang-on structures such as trunk lids and liftgates that need high stiffness, strength and impact resistance. |
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VALOX™ |
Short glass fiber-reinforced PBT resins delivering high stiffness, good weatherability and excellent chemical resistance. |
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XENOY™ |
PC/PBT alloys featuring high impact strength, good chemical resistance and long-term durability. |
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XENOY™ HTX |
Polyester-based high-heat resins offering e-coating capability for BIW components, as well as high impact strength, good chemical resistance and durability. |
Ask us about solutions for structures and modules.
Inner Tailgate Structure
SABIC provides a single source of diverse materials for the inner tailgate structure to address the overall trend toward modularity as well as specific performance requirements: light weight, stiffness and strength, resistance to slam/impact forces; and dimensional stability for gap and flush control, even under high temperatures from sun exposure.
Featured Product Grades
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PP homopolymer; 30% or 40% long glass fiber reinforcement; good toughness and strength; black color; injection molding grade. |
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PP homopolymer; 40% long glass fiber reinforcement; emission optimized; high strength and stiffness; black and natural for coloring at press; injection molding grade. |
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PP homopolymer; 40% long glass fiber reinforcement; UV stabilized; high strength and stiffness; black and natural for coloring at press; injection molding grade. |
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STAMAX™ 40YM440 (coming soon) |
PP homopolymer; 40% long glass fiber reinforcement; good toughness and strength; higher-quality aesthetics; injection molding grade. |
Front End Module
Efforts to cut CO2 emissions have led to a transition from heavy steel FEM carriers to designs that use thermoplastic composites based on PP, PBT and other materials. These new structures offer comparable strength, stiffness and impact performance vs. steel, while reducing weight up to 40%. In addition, these composites enable functional integration to streamline manufacturing. SABIC’s STAMAX™ PP composites and XENOY™ PBT alloys deliver stiffness, strength, impact (hood slam) resistance and property retention after long-term heat exposure.
Featured Product Grades
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PP homopolymer; 30% or 40% long glass fiber reinforcement; good toughness and strength; black color; injection molding grade. |
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PP homopolymer; 30% or 40% long glass fiber reinforcement; high heat resistance; injection molding grade. |
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PP compound; 30% short glass fiber reinforcement; combination of good performance profile and fast processing; black color; injection molding grade. |
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SABIC® PPcompound G3230AR (coming soon) |
PP compound; mechanical recycled content; 30% short glass fiber reinforcement; combines good performance profile with fast processing; black color; injection molding grade. |
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PP compound; 40% short glass fiber reinforcement; injection molding grade. |
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PBT alloy; 30% short glass fiber reinforcement; high heat resistance; excellent stiffness; black color; injection molding grade. |
Body-in-White Reinforcement
The BIW is a target for lightweighting because it comprises 30%-35% of the total weight of a vehicle. Weight-out can be achieved by using additional, local reinforcements made with structural thermoplastics to permit down-gauging of the BIW, or by replacing existing metal reinforcements with thermoplastic structures – without requiring significant assembly line changes. Relevant components for reinforcement are the A- and B-pillars, floor crossbar, front rail, roof structure and rocker.
Energy Absorbers
Changes in vehicle design and increasingly stringent safety regulations have created a need for energy absorption in multiple areas of a vehicle. In particular, crashworthiness for occupants and protection of pedestrians are critical. SABIC materials, including STAMAX™ and XENOY™ grades, offer ductile energy absorption or progressive failure for parts such as crash cans, rail extenders, front and underbody energy absorbers, rear bumper beams and front-end integrated crash absorbers. Used in conjunction with SABIC’s predictive engineering technologies, they can help increase occupant and pedestrian protection.
Featured Product Grades