Fiber reinforced glass composites automotive

Cellulosic fiber reinforced polymeric composites find applications in many fields ranging from the construction industry to the automotive industry. The reinforcing efficiency of natural fiber is related to the namre of cellulose and its crystallinity. The main components of natural fibers are cellulose (a-cellulose), hemicelluloses, lignin, pectins, and waxes. For example, biopolymers or synthetic polymers reinforced with natural or biofibers (termed biocomposites) are a viable alternative to glass fiber composites. The term biocomposite is now being applied to a staggering range of materials derived wholly or in part from renewable biomass resources [23]. 

Keywords automotive, automotive application, car components, automotive requirements, substitution of metals and polymers, interior parts, exterior parts, electrical applications, filled PP, elastomer-modified PP, thermoplastic polyolefins (TPO), GMT-PP, long-fiber reinforced PP, composites, market trends, glass fiber (GF) reinforcement. 

Biocomposites consisting of the polymer matrix and natural fibers are environmen-tally-friendly material which can replace glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites, and are currently used in a wide range of fields such as the automotive and construction industries, electronic components, sports and leisure, etc. [1, 2]. Recently, the research on nanobiocomposites which are reinforced with both natural fiber and nanofiller is actively proceeding in order to offer higher thermal and mechanical properties, transport barrier, thermal resistivity and flame retardance in comparison with the conventional biocomposites [3-7]. Recently, nanoclay has become of increasing interest in nanocomposites because the characteristics of nanometer-scaled sihcate pellets, such... 

Cellulose fibers in the form of papers and cotton had been used in combination with phenol-formaldehyde polymer as one of the earUest fiber-polymer composites [12]. Glass fibers later came on the scene and contributed to the commerciahzation of fiber-reinforced plastics [13]. The technical appHcations of fiber-reinforced plastic composites are shown in Figure 13.2. At least 50% of the fiber-reinforced plastics is used for automotive and construction applications. 

Fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites employed in outdoor applications (mainly in automotive industry) were designed to respond to specific loads over a wide range of stress factors. Thus, it was experimentally confirmed that the presence of glass fiber reinforcement reduced the sensitivity of the material towards the application of tensile stress during UV irradiation [99, 100]. Moreover, tensile stress favoured the diffusion of small radicals formed during polymer degradation. 

Gottgetreu, S., Injection Molding Long Glass Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites, SPE Automotive Conference and Exposition, Troy, MI, Sept 19-20, 2001. 

Composites. High molecular weight PPS can be combiaed with long (0.6 cm to continuous) fiber to produce advanced composite materials (131). Such materials having PPS as the polymer matrix have been developed by usiag a variety of reinforcements, including glass, carbon, and Kevlar fibers as mat, fabric, and unidirectional reinforcements. Thermoplastic composites based on PPS have found application ia the aircraft, aerospace, automotive, appliance, and recreation markets (see Composite materials, polymer-matrix). 

Fiber-reinforced composites contain strong fibers embedded in a continuous phase. They form the basis of many of the advanced and space-age products. They are important because they offer strength without weight and good resistance to weathering. Typical fibers are fiberous glass, carbon-based, aromatic nylons, and polyolefins. Typical resins are polyimides, polyesters, epoxys, PF, and many synthetic polymers. Applications include biomedical, boating, aerospace and outer space, sports, automotive, and industry. 

Schumacher and Slocum (7) presented papers regarding low-density urethane-foam composites to be used for automotive door trims. The physical properties of glass-fiber-reinforced urethane-foam composites are shown in Table 53. 

Fibers are classified as natural or synthetic. Fibers are used as a reinforcement material to increase the mechanical properties of polymer composites [31]. Synthetic fibers have been successfully used as the reinforcing material in composites such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, and Kevlar fiber. Glass fiber is a well-known example of a reinforcement material for polyolefin matrix. Polypropylene is a composite of increasing interest in automotive and other applications [32]. Figure 6.3 illustrates a glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene matrix. 

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