Russian materials manufacturer Sibur is expanding its use of polymers in automotive interior components and other parts. As part of this, the company has entered a partnership with Dipo, a developer of plastic products. The two companies will jointly develop polymer-based body parts, as well as interior components, exterior parts, structural frames and lighting components.
Polymer materials are appealing due to the fact that they are about 30% lighter than metal, which helps reduce vehicle weight. Their ability to deform also enables them to absorb impact energy for greater safety. Additionally, unlike metals, polymers are resistant to corrosion.
Sibur reports that the use of Russian-made synthetic materials in Russia’s automotive industry has increased by 24% over the past year. With its strong scientific and production capabilities for developing and manufacturing polymers, the company expects continued growth in the sector.
