Are Car Front Bumpers Made of Plastic?
2 Answers
Most original car bumpers are made of ABS plastic. Relevant information: 1. Reason: This is considered for pedestrian safety. If the vehicle's bumper were made of metal, in the event of an accident where the vehicle hits a pedestrian, the plastic bumper can deform to absorb the impact force, thereby minimizing pedestrian injuries. Since it needs to deform to absorb impact, plastic bumpers are used because plastic's characteristic allows for greater deformation force, thus absorbing impact to reduce pedestrian injuries. 2. Safety: If metal bumpers were used, due to metal's properties, they are less prone to deformation, resulting in reduced impact absorption capacity and increased pedestrian injuries.
From my over ten years of driving experience, most car front bumpers on the street nowadays are made of plastic. Last time when I backed into a corner, the repair shop technician said plastic parts are quick and cheap to fix—just a gentle push and they pop back into place. The best thing about plastic is its great flexibility; it actually provides cushioning effect in minor collisions, unlike the old-fashioned metal bumpers that would deform immediately upon impact. But you might not know, there’s actually a hidden secret weapon inside the bumper—a sturdy metal crash beam, like giving the car two layers of armor. Another advantage of using plastic is that it reduces the vehicle’s overall weight by around a hundred pounds, saving hundreds of dollars in fuel costs annually. And if the bumper cracks, don’t worry too much—with today’s advanced material technology, a heat gun can easily weld it back together.
