The automotive sector has taken a keen interest in lightweighting as new required performance standards for fuel economy come into place. This strategy includes parts consolidation, design optimization, and material substitution, with sustainable polymers playing a major role in reducing a vehicle’s weight.
Sustainable polymers are largely biodegradable, biocompatible, and sourced from renewable plant and agricultural stocks. A facile way to enhance their properties, so they can indeed replace the ones made from fossil fuels, is by reinforcing them with fibers to make composites. Natural fibers are gaining more acceptance in the industry due to their renewable nature, low cost, low density, low energy consumption, high specific strength and stiffness, CO2 sequestration potential, biodegradability, and less wear imposed on machinery.
Biocomposites then become a very feasible way to help address the fuel consumption challenge ahead of us.
This book, entitled Biocomposites in Automotive Applications, is segmented into three sections and includes eleven hand-picked technical papers covering:
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Processing and characterization of biocomposites
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Automotive applications of biocomposites
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A perspective on automotive sustainability
It is a must read for those interested in the growing importance of composites used in automotive applications and their impact on sustainable mobility.
Introduction
Part I : Processing and Characterization of Biocomposites
Chapter 1 : Processing and Characterization of Solid and Microcellular PHBV/Coir 2 Fiber Composites (2010-01-0422)
Chapter 2 : Effects of Natural Fiber Surface Treatments and Matrix Modification on Mechanical Properties of Their Composites (2010-01-0426)
Chapter 3 : A Study on Impact Perforation Resistance of Jute-Polyester Composite Laminates (2014-01-1055)
Chapter 4 : A Comparative Study on the Axial Impact Performance of Jute and Glass Fiber-Based Composite Tubes (2013-01-1178)
Chapter 5 : Utilization of Agricultural By-products as Fillers and Reinforcements in ABS (2010-01-0424)
Chapter 6 : Analysis of the Microstructure and Mechanical Resistance of Laminated Polyester Composites Reinforced with Curauá Fibers (2013-36-0376)
Part II : Automotive Applications of Biocomposites
Chapter 7 : Agro-Waste Based Friction Material for Automotive Application (2014-01-0945)
Chapter 8 : Friction Performance of Eco-Friendly Cu-Free Brake Materials with Geopolymer Matrixes (2013-01-2026)
Chapter 9 : Natural Oil Polyol (NOP) Based Polyurethane Slabstock Foam for Automotive Interior Foam-Fabric/Vinyl Laminate Construction (2011-01-0459)
Chapter 10 : Development of Flax Fiber/Soy-Based Polyurethane Composites for Mass Transit Flooring Application (2010-01-0428)
Part III : A Perspective on Automotive Sustainability
Chapter 11 : SAE’s Green Technology Systems Group : Focus on Environmental Sustainability for the Automotive Industry (2011-01-1258)
About the Editors
