Plastics and composites have incomparable sets of properties to meet most of these requirements:
Technical features:
Plastics offer an exceptional balance of weight, performances, ease of processing, aesthetics, and cost:
* Design freedom allows a high level of function integration
* Low density and interesting performance/weight ratio leads to ease in handling.
* Shatter resistance: plastics avoid the cutting shreds of glass
* Damping (noise reduction).
* Durability and resistance to moisture
* Ease of maintenance
* Possibility of bulk colouring and in-mould decoration
* Good thermal insulation
Economical features:
* Ease of processing
* Reduction or suppression of finishing operations
* Higher productivity due to function integration
* The possibilities of joining with simple technologies such as gluing
Aesthetic features:
Plastics allow:
* Much more design freedom than steel, and other conventional materials
* Pleasant finish
* Decoration possibilities
Environmental features:
Plastics are environment friendly as they provide:
* Energy saving during all the lifetime by the high thermal insulation properties and the sealing properties of elastomers and TPE
* Weight reduction
* Protective properties
* Ease of cleaning

Almost all polymers are more or less used in the household appliances:
* Solid and foamed plastics, thermoplastics, thermosets and composites
* Crosslinked rubbers
* Thermoplastic elastomers

Figure 1 displays market shares of commodity and engineering plastics used in appliances

• Styrenics including ABS are the major players with roughly 50% of total consumption.
• PP is in second position and is growing fast.
• Four engineering plastics accounting for a total of roughly 10% are used in specific technical applications justifying their cost.