Description
Automotive Plastics and Composites: Materials and Processing is an essential guide to the use of plastic and polymer composites in automotive applications, whether in the exterior, interior, under-the-hood, or powertrain, with a focus on materials, properties, and processing.The book begins by introducing plastics and polymers for the automotive industry, discussing polymer materials and structures, mechanical, chemical, and physical properties, rheology, and flow analysis. In the second part of the book, each chapter is dedicated to a category of material, and considers the manufacture, processing, properties, shrinkage, and possible applications, in each case. Two chapters on polymer processing provide detailed information on both closed-mold and open-mold processing. The final chapters explain other key aspects, such as recycling and sustainability, design principles, tooling, and future trends.This book is an ideal reference for plastics engineers, product designers, technicians, scientists, and R&D professionals who are looking to develop materials, components, or products for automotive applications. The book also intends to guide researchers, scientists, and advanced students in plastics engineering, polymer processing, and materials science and engineering.- Analyzes mechanical, chemical, physical, and thermal properties, enabling the reader to select the appropriate material for specific applications- Explains polymer processing, with thorough coverage of operations across both closed-mold and open-mold processing- Provides systematic coverage of materials, including commodity and engineering thermoplastics, bio-based plastics, thermosets, composites, elastomeric polymers, and 3D-printed plastics
Table of Contents
1. Introduction2. Polymer Materials3. Microstructures of Polymers4. Physical and Mechanical Properties5. Rheology and Plastic Flow6. Flow Analysis with Injection Molding7. Commodity Plastics8. Engineering Plastics9. Elastomers and Rubbers10. Bio-based and Biodegradable Plastics11. Thermoset Polymers12. Polymer Composites13. Extrusion14. Injection Molding15. Blow Molding16. Compression Molding17. Recycling and Environmental Aspects18. Design Aspects in Automotive Plastics and Composites19. Additive Manufacturing in Automotive20. Sustainable CarAppendix A. Answers to Questions
