Lightweight Materials for Automotive Applications: A Review 2015-36-0219

Today, in order to optimize the resources usage and reduce the air pollution, the automobile industry is facing new challenges, with the necessity to improve engines fuel economy, enhance vehicles autonomy and reduce the CO₂ emission. One of the solution, which is being much researched, is the car components weight reduction. There is a range of new materials that have been developed to attend the new weight standards. Together with lightweight these materials must also deliver acceptable mechanical properties, easy to manufacture and to assembly capability, good appearance, high durability, good cost-benefit relation and in some cases also acceptable impact energy absorption. This paper presents a review of some of the lightweight materials that are being applied in automobiles, like Carbon Fiber, Aluminum Alloy, Magnesium Alloy, Hybrid Material and Polymer Composites. The physical characteristics, applicability in automotive components, manufacturability and relative cost are shown for each material.