Automotive Composites
The automotive composite material is a chemical
composition of two (or more) different phases and an insoluble substance. These
insoluble materials are good performing fibers such as glass and carbon
contained in matrix materials such as epoxy polymers. Composite materials
formed in this way, when bonded together, provide enhanced properties relative
to the properties of the individual materials themselves.
These composites are known as
"Automotive Composites" after they have been deployed to cars and
vehicles. When used in the manufacture of vehicles such as buses, trucks,
trolleys, and cars, composites offer increased strength and stiffness. The
reason is; composites are 60% lighter than steel or iron.
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Automotive Composites |
Uses of Automotive Composites
The automotive industry has two very
different parts. A mass production department and a specialized area to produce
small numbers of modified or finished vehicles. Each challenge is different,
and this is reflected in the way carmakers approach the use of composites.
In high volume manufacturing, most
of the costs are in the capital plants needed for manufacturing, so once you
get the equipment you need and get it up and running, it's very costly to
redesign the components. This, of course, makes the industry very conservative
and encourages extensive prototype testing in both the real and simulated
environments of the new system before any investment is made.
However, small volume production is
a little less resistant to material changes because the manufacturing process
is much less capital intensive.
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Uses of Natural Fibers In Automotive Composites
Benefits of using natural fiber
composites over carbon-based and traditional plastic composites – far beyond
the carbon footprint. It is safer to manufacture natural fiber composites. With
its low density and the potential to reduce weight by up to 30%, it is the
ideal insulation for thermal and acoustic applications. Because of the lightweight of natural fiber composites, benefits for the end consumer include
improved fuel economy.
The production of plant-based
plastics, polymers, and composites have grown in popularity over the last few
years as consumers have changed. High-quality polymers have two unique sales
offers over traditional materials. They are more sustainable because they are non-toxic
in production and are partially or wholly derived from plant-based renewable
resources. While as durable and tough as their carbon-based counterparts,
natural fiber composites offer significantly more strength, while not providing
a superior weight-to-strength ratio, while offering significantly greater
strength. It tends to be lighter.
Advantages of Automotive Composites
The main advantages that composite
materials offer for automotive applications are cost savings, weight savings, and recyclability. Composite materials offer many structural and weight
advantages over traditional steel and injection molded automotive parts.
Compared to thermoset-based
composites, thermoplastics offer significant advantages to the automotive
industry: zero solvent emissions, reduced material scrap, improved work safety
conditions, elimination of painting processes (high molecular weight).
Eliminating tedious production steps (through the use of polymer surface
films), automation steps, and ultimately a significant improvement in
recyclability.
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