An Introduction To Automotive Composites

This book is an upb306d and expanded version of the course notes for the Composite Awareness course run by the Warwick Manufacturing Group in 1998-1999. The book gives readers an appreciation of composites, materials properties, manufacturing technologies and the wider implications of using composites in the automotive sector. It will be useful for those already working with composites in automotive applications and for those who are considering using them in the future.

This textbook is a step-by-step introduction to nanocomposite materials using methods familiar to materials science students and engineers. It covers all nanoparticle types, including flakes, nanotubes, and nanoparticulates. It provides the basics for composites with reinforcements ranging from microns to nanometers.

Green Composites for Automotive Applications presents cutting-edge, comprehensive reviews on the industrial applications of green composites. The book provides an elaborative assessment of both academic and industrial research on eco-design, durability issues, environmental performance, and future trends. Particular emphasis is placed on the processing and characterization of green composites, specific types of materials, such as thermoset and thermoplastic, nanocomposites, sandwich, and polymer biofoams. Additional sections cover lifecycle and risk analysis. As such, this book is an essential reference resource for R&D specialists working in materials science, automotive, chemical, and environmental engineering, as well as R&D managers in industry. Contains contributions from leading experts in the field Covers experimental, analytical and numerical analysis Deals with most important automotive aspects Provides a special section dedicated to lifecycle assessment

The automotive industry faces many challenges, including increased global competition, the need for higher-performance vehicles, a reduction in costs and tighter environmental and safety requirements. The materials used in automotive engineering play key roles in overcoming these issues: ultimately lighter materials mean lighter vehicles and lower emissions. Composites are being used increasingly in the automotive industry due to their strength, quality and light weight. Advanced Composite Materials for Automotive Applications: Structural Integrity and Crashworthiness provides a comprehensive explanation of how advanced composite materials, including FRPs, reinforced thermoplastics, carbon-based composites and many others, are designed, processed and utilized in vehicles. It includes technical explanations of composite materials in vehicle design and analysis and covers all phases of composite design, modelling, testing and failure analysis. It also sheds light on the performance of existing materials including carbon composites and future developments in automotive material technology which work towards reducing the weight of the vehicle structure. Key features: Chapters written by world-renowned authors and experts in their own fields Includes detailed case studies and examples covering all aspects of composite materials and their application in the automotive industries Unique topic integration between the impact, crash, failure, damage, analysis and modelling of composites Presents the state of the art in composite materials and their application in the automotive industry Integrates theory and practice in the fields of composite materials and automotive engineering Considers energy efficiency and environmental implications Advanced Composite Materials for Automotive Applications: Structural Integrity and Crashworthiness is a comprehensive reference for those working with composite materials in both academia and industry, and is also a useful source of information for those considering using composites in automotive applications in the future.

The development of new materials that are technically and economically viable is no small endeavor. The risks, costs, and time involved in research are usually so high that only governments or private consortia can bear them. And so it has been with the trajectory of carbon fiber reinforced composites, which are capable of providing the lightweighting needed for fuel efficiency, and the mechanical strength required for safety. After a long development cycle, this material is now being widely used by the military, in commercial aircraft, and in the automotive industry. Automotive Carbon Fiber Composites: From Evolution to Implementation, written by Dr. Jackie Rehkopf, senior researcher at Plasan Carbon Composites, gives a high-level summary on carbon reinforced fiber composites specific to the automotive industry in today’s market and its vision for the next 5 to 10 years. It begins with a comprehensive and easy-to-read overview of how composites started to be investigated as a possible alternative to metals, mostly driven by military demands, going on to cover: Fiber and resin types for automotive applications Composite constructions Manufacturing processes Machining and joining Reclaiming and recycling of these materials, among other topics. The title approaches the future with the realistic optimism of those who work with the challenges of creating new solutions to problems that will stay with us for some time to come: the need to conserve energy and make transportation ever more affordable without the loss of safety. Carbon fiber reinforced composites have demonstrated real value in positively addressing these issues. Automotive Carbon Fiber Composites: From Evolution to Implementation is an excellent guide for those involved in technical material strategy and research, as well as those who need to understand the basics of this subject to support better business decisions.

Various factors in the automotive sector have combined to create a favourable climate for the development of materials and fabrication techniques for polymer-based composite body panels and structures. The cond104 in which composites are used within the automotive industry has been reviewed in this report and those materials and processes that are used in the fabrication of components and structures are described in detail. For this reason, this report is essential reading for the composites, plastics industries and the land transport/automotive sectors. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database gives useful references for further reading.

Following the success of the first (1995) edition, this fully updated report will provide a global overview of the use of automotive plastics and composites in passenger vehicles, with an analysis of markets and trends to the year 2007. Special attention is given to vehicle weight reduction. For a PDF version of the report please call Tina Enright on +44 (0) 1865 843008 for price details.