State of the Art and Prospects

This chapter gives a comprehensive account of the materials used in manufacturing vehicles. In the first section it explains the properties and characteristics that a suitable material should have to be accepted in automotive production. In later sections it reviews the history of development of the materials in automotive from the most traditional to the most recent ones. In the class of the metallic materials, steel, aluminium and magnesium and the most recent alloys of these used in the automotive are explained. Some of the properties, manufacturing and joining processes for these metals are described. The advantages and problems of using each of these materials are also reported. The potential application of these materials in different parts of a vehicle is identified. The other class of materials considered is composites and plastics with synthetic or natural fibre as reinforcement. Whilst the synthetic fibres are more traditional type of composites used, the natural fibre composites hold a relatively new place with substantial potential for growth due to the growing environmental concerns. With regard to the composite the cost is one of the most important barriers in use of these materials. Therefore a cost analysis is presented. Also the second barrier is a suitable manufacturing process for producing complex automotive parts. A review of the manufacturing process therefore is also offered for the composites with both synthetic and natural fibres. s