《Land transportation applications》.pdfVIP

LAND TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS 41 Douglas L. Denton 41.1 INTRODUCTION processes must be used to manufacture parts The use of polymer composite materials in rapidly enough to meet the production rates of land transportation is steadily increasing the assembly plants. As a result, injection and compression molding processes are used because of the cost and performance advan- extensively for these applications. Composites tages that composites offer over competing typically used in transportation applications materials. Today, composites are extensively consist of low-cost grades of thermoplastic or used in well-established passenger car, van and truck applications. New applications thermoset polymers reinforced with E-glass fibers. Often these composites also contain demanding higher structural performance lev- mineral particulate fillers. Composites con- els are under development. Railroad cars, mass transit vehicles and a wide range of mil- taining high-modulus fibers, such as carbon, and higher-performance resins such as epox- itary ground transportation systems offer ies, are used only where the higher cost can be expanding opportunities for composite mate- rials. justified to meet special product requirements.