Due to recent trend and increasing awareness towards sustainable product design, natural based fiber materials are gaining a revival popularity to replace synthetic based fiber in the formulation of composites especially for automotive structural and semi structural applications. In this paper, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was utilized in the selection of the most suitable natural fiber to be hybridized with glass fiber reinforced polymer composites for the design of a passenger vehicle center lever parking brake component. Thirteen (13) candidate natural based fiber materials for the hybridization process were selected and analyzed to determine their overall scores in three (3) main performance indices according to the component product design specifications. Using the AHP method, the kenaf bast fiber yields the highest scores and was selected as the best candidate material to formulate the hybrid polymer composites for the automotive component construction. Sensitivity analysis was also performed and results show that kenaf bast fiber emerged as the best candidate material in two out of three simulated scenarios, which further validates the results gained through the AHP method.

The aim for this work is to investigate the effect of alkaline treatment on the mechanical, physical and thermal properties of roselle (RF)/sugar palm fiber (SPF) reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane hybrid composites. RF/SPF hybrid composites were fabricated at different NaOH concentrations (3%, 6% and 9%) by melt mixing and compression molding. The mechanical, physical and thermal properties of RF/SPF hybrid composites were measured. The morphological properties of the tensile fractured sample were examined using scanning electron microscope. Obtained results indicated that the effect of NaOH treatment on the surface improved mechanical, physical and thermal properties accompanied by lower impact resistance. The highest tensile is 14.26 MPa, flexural strength is 14.05 MPa and impact strength is 23.76 kJ/M2) was obtained from treatment 6% NaOH concentration on RF/SPF hybrid composites. Adhesion bonding between fiber and matrix was evident by using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph of hybrid composite tensile fractured. Scanning electron micrograph of tensile fractured surfaces of the NaOH treated RF/SPF hybrid composites revealed good adhesion bonding between fiber and matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to observe the effectiveness of NaOH treatment in the removal impurities on fiber surfaces. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the treated RF/SPF hybrid composites had improved the thermal stability. Physical properties showed lower water uptake of the treated thermoplastic polyurethane hybrid composites. The lowest water uptake is 7.97% and thickness swelling is 6.49% obtained from 9% NaOH concentration after soaked in water for 7 days. Overall, the surface treatment on RF/SPF hybrid composite has enhanced the composite properties and suitable for automotive part application; battery holder and bottom based.

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In the design of automotive components, substitution of metal with natural fibre as base material is commonly found due to high-energy consumption in producing metal components that affects the environment. Therefore, in this study, natural fibres were selected for a hybrid bio-composite material in the design for an automotive anti-roll bar in order to determine the suitable natural fibre that could satisfy the requirements both of customers and the environment. The study was performed using a combination of Analytic Hierarchy Process and Quality Function Deployment for Environment. In making the final decision, life cycle assessment was performed to support the environmental requirements. The results show that sugar palm fibre is the fibre that can best satisfy the design requirements, with 21.51 % of the total score, followed by kenaf, which obtained 20.18 %. Lastly, both the fibres were compared for the life cycle assessment and the results show that sugar palm has a 10 % lower impact on the environment due to its lower energy consumption and CO 2 footprint. Hence, sugar palm fibre is selected as the material to use in the hybrid bio-composite for the automotive anti-roll bar.

This paper presents the conceptual design of kenaf fiber polymer composites automotive parking brake lever using the integration of Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ), morphological chart and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods. The aim is to generate and select the best concept design of the component based on the product design specifications with special attention to incorporate the use of natural fiber polymer composites into the component design. In this paper, the TRIZ contradiction matrix and 40 inventive principles solution tools were applied in the early solution generation stage. The principle solution parameters for the specific design characteristics were later refined in details using the aid of morphological chart to systematically develop conceptual designs for the component. Five (5) innovative design concepts of the component were produced and AHP method was finally utilized to perform the multi-criteria decision making process of selecting the best concept design for the polymer composite automotive parking brake lever component.

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Concurrent Engineering (CE) is regarded as a systematic design approach which integrates concurrent design of product with the related processes which is able to accomplish product that can be produced at lower cost, shorter time and with higher quality and this achievement was termed as cost, time and quality (CTQ) improvement. Since its establishment, CE philosophy was well implemented in product development with traditional materials such as metals but up to date, the work on CE in composite product development is still limited. Hence, a review on the implementation of Concurrent Engineering (CE) approach in the development of composite products is presented in this paper which includes review of various studies of CE techniques in composite product development. In addition, the relationship between CE and Pugh total design method is discussed in the context of composite design. Moreover, publications related to materials selection, life cycle analysis and sustainability issues of composite materials are also reviewed whereby a section is devoted to highlight previous work on materials selection using Analytical Hierarchy Process method. It was observed that materials selection of composite materials is a very important activity as far as CE in composite product development. The use of various techniques and computer aided materials selection tools such as Analytical Hierarchy Process has helped designers to select the most optimum composite materials for engineering components. Furthermore, based on current trends in composites product development, the role of CE is expected to be more crucial to assist composites designers in achieving the design requirements from various stakeholders effectively and efficiently considering the expanding range of composite materials availability as well as realizing new potential for biocomposites applications through introduction of innovative alternative problem solving methods as part of the CE family.

The aim of this paper is to study the effect of fibre content on mechanical and morphological properties and thermal stability of roselle fibres (RFs) reinforced polyurethane (TPU) composites. The RF/TPU composites were prepared at difference fibre contents; 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt% by melt mixed mixer and hot press at 170 °C. Mechanical (tensile, flexural and impact strength) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) properties of RF/TPU composites were measured according to ASTM standard. Obtained results indicated that effect of fibre contents display improved tensile and flexural and impact strength properties. RF/TPU composites show the best mechanical and thermal properties at 40 wt% roselle fibre content. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph of fractured tensile sample of the roselle composite revealed good fibre/matrix bonding. TGA showed that RF/TPU with difference fibre contents had improved thermal stability.