Polypropylene (PP) is extensively used in both interior as well exterior applications of automobiles, gaining in application because of environmental pressures on recycling of automobile plastic parts. Since PP is the leading material used in automobiles, car manufacturers tend to replace parts made from other plastics also with those manufactured from PP. However, the shortcoming of PP parts is the ease with which scratches can take place on them. Bumper fascia and other exterior claddings are two major applications of PP in the automobile. Typically elastomeric PP (PP modified with elastomer) is used for these automotive parts. Due to their softness their abrasion as well scratch resistance are not adequate and these parts tend to get easily scratched.

Ciba, the global leader in the additives for polymers has recently introduced a new additive called Irgasurf SR 100 that when blended at 2-3 % level in PP enhances the scratch resistance significantly. A product with 3% addition improves scratch performance at least by 30%. Ciba has not disclosed the nature of this additive and is therefore difficult to understand its performance. The other additive that is normally used to improve scratch resistance of PP is high molecular weight silicone. This product is available from the leading supplier of silicone oil (Dow). The comparative performance of this new additive from Ciba with silicone oil needs to be understood before accepting this new additive.