Applications of sustainable polymer composites in automobile and aerospace industry

Abstract

Abstract There is increasing demand for reduction in weight of automobiles and aircrafts which drives for increased in fuel efficiency and low CO2 discharges in conformity with global legislations. Lightweight can be achieved using composite material ranging from the use of carbon fiber–reinforced plastics composites to glass fiber–reinforced plastics composites. These materials offer less weight compared to the metallic materials such as steel, iron, and aluminum presently dominating the automobile and aerospace equipment manufacture. The gains that can be achieved from lightweighting include saving the emission of tons of carbon dioxide each year, and the resultant fuel efficiency is of enormous economic importance to the industries. Recently, composite materials have therefore become essentials in the manufacture of both automobiles and aircraft parts. For effective applications and general acceptance of these materials, issues of effective cost and high mechanical performance must be addressed. A lot of progress has been made in the application of polymer composites both in automobiles and aerospace industries.