When we talk about automotive, heavy vehicles are no choice due to fuel consumption and other drawbacks.
Usually, metals are used for automotive due to their strength which results in weight increase.
The fiber-reinforced composites are replacing the heavy metals in automotive industries for the said purpose. Lightweighting involves removing weight without sacrificing strength or performance, which raises fuel efficiency and reduces carbon emissions associated with modes of transportation such as automobiles, railcars, aircrafts, off-road vehicles, and those for marine applications.
The Avient Corporation, USA, is helping replace metal or wood with its advanced composite materials valued for their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, durability, dimensional stability, and corrosion resistance in the transportation sector. Manufacturers around the world have embraced the concept of lightweight vehicles to improve sustainability in transportation.
A few examples beyond traditional automotive applications include polystrand panels which are featured in all-composite medium-duty trucks and trailers that reduce weight by 45 percent versus conventional materials and are entirely recyclable, Complet long fiber-reinforced structural composites which replace aluminum in light aircraft seats and spacers, resulting in a 40 percent weight reduction; hammerhead marine composite panels which reduce weight and increase durability versus wood in structural boat-building components, such as stringers and subfloors; and platforms CRTM composite panels which replace steel doors on railcar auto carriers, saving up to 300 lb per railcar.
Walter Ripple, vice president of Sustainability at Avient Corporation, said, “A primary goal among OEMs today is to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Lightweighting is an effective means to do this.
As a result, we see increased demand for our advanced composite technologies, which not only provide excellent performance but also are extremely versatile and offer a great deal of design freedom.
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