Review of the applications of biocomposites in the automotive industry

TLDR

The automotive sector includes passenger cars, SUVs, vans, trucks, buses, and recreational vehicles. The article reviews the history, adoption, and future prospects of biocomposites in automotive manufacturing. It examines the drivers, benefits, drawbacks, and challenges of biocomposite integration, highlighting the roles of automakers and suppliers. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers; Polym.

Abstract

The article provides an overview of biocomposite application in the automotives via a documentation of their history, chronology and progressive steps taken to break into the production lines of a number of key auto makers. It offers a detailed analysis of the key factors that have motivated the research and subsequent adoption of biocomposites; taking a peek at the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges experienced in the process. Auto makers and parts suppliers that have been a force behind this campaign, have also been accorded a fair share in the article. Future projection of role of these materials in the industry; with the ideas well dressed in form of bio concept cars caps up the paper. Automotive refers to; passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, trucks, buses, and recreational vehicles. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2553–2569, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers