CHARACTERISTICS AND APPLICATION OF POLYMER COMPOSITES IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Abstract

Composite materials are increasingly pervading various fields of modern engineering, primarily due to their exceptional characteristics in terms of light weight, excellent strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and high resistance to temperature changes. As a result of the above, engineers recognized the importance and benefits of using composites in various aggregates, assemblies and parts of vehicles, starting from the simplest ones to the most complex and crucial ones on each individual vehicle. Due to the increasing use of electric and hybrid vehicles, compared to conventional vehicles, composite materials are used in various assemblies of these vehicles, starting from energy and power units, in the form of batteries, electric motors and generators, and through body and chassis elements to rubber parts, plastic and glass, which are subject to wear and aging and which are periodically changed, according to the exploitation and time resources of electric and hybrid vehicles. The expectations of the majority of researchers are that there will be further expansion in the matter of the application of composite materials for an even larger assortment of vehicle components, but also the development and improvement of the current characteristics of composite materials.