Applications of Lightweight Composites in Automotive Industries

Abstract

Lightweight composites produced from renewable and biodegradable materials have been very promising to find wide applications in automotive industries and to lessen the dependence on exhausting petroleum resource. In this chapter, various natural fibers, traditional polymer and bio-polymer matrix systems are presented. Potentials and limitations of modification methods on natural fiber and manufacturing techniques for lightweight composites are reviewed in details. Major technical concerns and challenges regarding natural fiber reinforced composites are addressed. Examples of recent automotive industrial applications are given and future trends are outlined.

Review of natural fiber-reinforced engineering plastic composites, their applications in the transportation sector and processing techniques

“…73 Global production of natural fibers and the largest producing regions are listed in Table 3. The most common natural fibers used as reinforcement in the transportation sector are flax, 6,7,17,25,[87][88][89][90] kenaf, 6,7,25,88,90 jute, 7,17,25,[87][88][89] sisal, 6,17,25,[87][88][89][90] hemp, 6,7,17,25,[87][88][89][90] coir, 6,25,90 abaca, 6,88,90 wood, 6,25,88,90 and certain crop residues such as rice. 88…”

“…This occurs due to the presence of cellulose in natural fibers that are hydrophilic in nature in comparison to the hydrophobic nature of thermoplastics polymers; the incompatibility between polar natural fibers and nonpolar polymer matrix leads to the nonuniform wetting of the fibers in the matrix and their poor interface adhesion. 13,14,20,70,88,114 Load transfer is therefore insufficient between the fiber reinforcement and matrix, thus resulting in poor mechanical properties of the NFRP composites. 88 Fibers provide high strength and stiffness in composite structures but fibers are not able to withstand heavy loads by themselves.…”

“…13,14,20,70,88,114 Load transfer is therefore insufficient between the fiber reinforcement and matrix, thus resulting in poor mechanical properties of the NFRP composites. 88 Fibers provide high strength and stiffness in composite structures but fibers are not able to withstand heavy loads by themselves. Consequently, natural fibers are mixed with matrix resin as a reinforcement, where the polymer matrix holds the fibers together (8) and is responsible for transmission of shear forces.…”

“…Presence of high moisture content and absorption of high amount of water from environment can cause fiber swelling within the composites resulting in dimensional instability and thus affecting mechanical properties of the composites material. 13,21,88 Also, the presence of water can create voids in the matrix and further decrease the adhesion between fiber and matrix. 88 Thus using NFRP composites in external application in vehicles or aircrafts and in maritime industry, the water absorption can greatly affect the performance requirement of the component.…”

Thermal Analysis of Polyamide 6 Composites Filled by Natural Fiber Blend

“…In automotive applications, lightweight sustainable composites lessen the dependence on petroleum resources and replacing dense (talc fillers) as well as man-made fillers (glass and carbon fibers) with more environmentally friendly materials (Leao et al 1998;Zhao and Zhou 2014). Recently in Europe and North America, the use of natural fibers as fillers in plastic composites has received considerable attention in the automotive industry because of their low cost compared to carbon fibers, low density versus other fillers (2.5 g/cm 3 for glass fibers and 2.75 g/cm 3 for talc fillers), good mechanical properties, ease of fiber surface modification via functional groups, relative non-abrasiveness to compounding and processing tools, renewability, biodegradability, and world-wide availability (Joshi et al 2004;Santos et al 2008;Njuguna et al 2011;Ozen et al 2012).…”