Polymer Composites for the Automotive Industry

Growing demands for fuel efficiency and control of greenhouse gas emissions have become the driving force for automakers to produce lightweight vehicles, contributing to meeting both users’ expectations of superior performance (e.g., improved driving economy, braking behavior, and crashworthiness) and regulatory circularity requirements for design and manufacturing. In response to these evolving needs, Polymer Composites for the Automotive Industry equips readers with sought-after, systematic information on these materials, whose application will keep transforming the vehicle engineering sector in a pivotal way.

The volume encompasses a classification of polymer-based composites and nanocomposites that is accompanied by elucidations on material properties and characterization alongside modeling and testing methods for specific fabrication of a multitude of car parts in need of modernizing modifications (including chassis, exterior components, internal accessories, seats, brakes, floors, springs, wheels, battery boxes, etc.). Some application examples for other road transport, aerospace, aviation, and marine vehicles are also summarized for a more complete digest of polymer composites’ relevance across the industry.

This in-depth review further proves to be a highly valuable resource as it closes the gap between research and practical implementation by offering guidance to transform prototype designs into tangible, testable products at industrial scale at a time when sustainability is seen as a critical priority and cost-effectiveness is essential for competitive advantage.