Hybrid composites for automotive applications - A review

Composites have become preferred material for weight reduction in automobile. Hybrid composite materials are used in many engineering applications for their versatile properties like lightweight, strength to weight ratio, low cost, ease of structure development and high strength. Automobile industry utilizes composites and hybrid composites in many of the interior and exterior applications. Considering ease of manufacturing methods under the wider choice of fabrication techniques, hybrid composites are developed wherever it can contribute for the enhancement of functional requirement simply by replacing the existing materials. Hybrid composites made from blending of natural and synthetic fibers in a polymer matrix show synergistic effect on properties which cannot be achieved from normal composites. In this paper, hybrid composites and especially its types, diversity of properties and possible material combinations are reviewed in detail. The development of a various type of hybrid composites in automotive applications such as in automotive piston application, brake friction material for medium duty automotive application, development of eco-friendly automotive anti-roll bar and low-velocity impact response of hybrid carbon/glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites are also reviewed in detail.