Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adaption of green composite in automotive part replacements: discussions on material modification and future patronage

  • Short Research and Discussion Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the concept of green composite in automotive part replacement. Adaptation of lightweight materials in transport system has been an integral part of weight saving measures in car’s component formation. The continuing rise in ambient temperature is a signal no scientist would ever ignore in the face of global warming and attendant water level surge. Reduction of body system of automobile vehicles has been ongoing for several years with huge patronage on synthetic materials. The sudden attention to green composite may not be unconnected with the environmental impact of vehicular materials after their life cycle. This has led to the improved properties of polymeric materials to replace ferrous and nonferrous metals in vehicle formation. In this paper, an in-depth study was undertaken on sustainable green materials limiting the scope on the plant fibre for automotive part replacement. Plant fibres are increasingly gaining momentum in view of their recyclability and environmental friendliness. It has been noted that nearly all automakers are exploring the recyclable or biodegradable materials for part replacement, making the green composite a material for the future. Part of the attracting properties of plant fibres is their relative high strength and stiffness with low cost and low CO2 emission. This is also, in addition, to their biodegradability and renewability. Further discussion in this paper centred on the difficulty in the modification of plant fibre for sustainable compatibility in part formations. Key of the conclusions drawn from this work indicates a promising future for plant fibres with enormous challenges relating to their chemical treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adekomaya O, Jamiru T, Sadiku R, Huan Z (2017a) Minimizing energy consumption in refrigerated vehicles through alternative external wall. Renew Sust Energ Rev 67:89–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adekomaya O, Jamiru T, Sadiku R, Huan Z (2017b) Negative impact from the application of natural fibers. J Clean Prod 143:843–846

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akampumuza O, Wambua PM, Ahmed A, Li W, Qin XH (2017) Review of the applications of biocomposites in the automotive industry. Polym Compos 38:2553–2569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashori A (2008) Wood–plastic composites as promising green-composites for automotive industries! Bioresour Technol 99:4661–4667

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bajpai PK, Singh I, Madaan J (2014) Development and characterization of PLA-based green composites: a review. J Thermoplast Compos Mater 27:52–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bledzki A, Mamun A, Faruk O (2007) Abaca fibre reinforced PP composites and comparison with jute and flax fibre PP composites. Express Polym Lett 1:755–762

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borck R (2019) Public transport and urban pollution. Reg Sci Urban Econ 77:356–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahlke B, Larbig H, Scherzer H, Poltrock R (1998) Natural fiber reinforced foams based on renewable resources for automotive interior applications. J Cell Plast 34:361–379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DE Leon AC, Chen Q, Palaganas NB, Palaganas JO, Manapat J, Advincula RC (2016) High performance polymer nanocomposites for additive manufacturing applications. React Funct Polym 103:141–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira FV, Pinheiro IF, DE Souza SF, Mei LH, Lona LM (2019) Polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers and nanocellulose in the automotive industry: a short review. J Compos Sci 3:51

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrero E, Alessandrini S, Balanzino A (2016) Impact of the electric vehicles on the air pollution from a highway. Appl Energy 169:450–459

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich K, Almajid AA (2013) Manufacturing aspects of advanced polymer composites for automotive applications. Appl Compos Mater 20:107–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gatlin MD, Barrows FT, Brown P, Dabrowski K, Gaylord TG, Hardy RW, Herman E, Hu G, Krogdahl Å, Nelson R (2007) Expanding the utilization of sustainable plant products in aquafeeds: a review. Aquac Res 38:551–579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gesing A (2004) Assuring the continued recycling of light metals in end-of-life vehicles: a global perspective. JOM 56:18–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghassemieh E (2011) New trends and developments in automotive industry, vol 2. InTech, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Goede M, Stehlin M, Rafflenbeul L, Kopp G, Beeh E (2009) Super light car—lightweight construction thanks to a multi-material design and function integration. Eur Transp Res Rev 1:5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heavenrich RM (2006) Light-duty automotive technology and fuel economy trends: 1975 through 2006, Citeseer

  • Hill K, Swiecki B, Cregger J (2012) The bio-based materials automotive value chain. Center for Automotive Research, Michigan 112

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamshaid H, Mishra R (2016) A green material from rock: basalt fiber–a review. J Text Inst 107:923–937

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kandachar P, Brouwer R (2001) Applications of bio-composites in industrial products MRS Online Proceedings Library Archive, 702

  • Konz RJ (2009) The end-of-life vehicle (ELV) directive: the road to responsible disposal. Minn J Int Law 18:431

    Google Scholar 

  • Koronis G, Silva A, Fontul M (2013a, 2013) Corrigendum to “green composites: a review of adequate materials for automotive applications”. Compos Part B 44:120–127 391

  • Koronis G, Silva A, Fontul M (2013b) Green composites: a review of adequate materials for automotive applications. Compos Part B 44:120–127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar V, Sutherland JW (2008) Sustainability of the automotive recycling infrastructure: review of current research and identification of future challenges. Int J Sustain Manuf 1:145–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LA Mantia F, Morreale M (2011) Green composites: a brief review. Compos A: Appl Sci Manuf 42:579–588

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lyu M-Y, Choi TG (2015) Research trends in polymer materials for use in lightweight vehicles. Int J Precis Eng Manuf 16:213–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magurno A (1999) Vegetable fibres in automotive interior components. Die Angewandte Makromolekulare Chemie 272:99–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maxton GP, Wormald J (2004) Time for a model change: re-engineering the global automotive industry. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Miller L, Soulliere K, Sawyer-Beaulieu S, Tseng S, Tam E (2014) Challenges and alternatives to plastics recycling in the automotive sector. Materials 7:5883–5902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misra M, Drzal LT (2005) Natural fibers, biopolymers, and biocomposites. Taylor & Francis, Milton Park

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty AK, Misra M, Drzal L (2002) Sustainable bio-composites from renewable resources: opportunities and challenges in the green materials world. J Polym Environ 10:19–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montag J (2015) The simple economics of motor vehicle pollution: a case for fuel tax. Energy Policy 85:138–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmgren F, Berkowicz R, Ziv A, Hertel O (1999) Actual car fleet emissions estimated from urban air quality measurements and street pollution models. Sci Total Environ 235:101–109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pervaiz M, Panthapulakkal S, Birat K, Sain M, Tjong J (2016) Emerging trends in automotive lightweighting through novel composite materials. Mater Sci Appl 7:26

    Google Scholar 

  • Rezaei F, Yunus R, Ibrahim N, Mahdi E (2008) Development of short-carbon-fiber-reinforced polypropylene composite for car bonnet. Polym-Plast Technol Eng 47:351–357

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson ML, Chang K, Gramlich WM, Hillmyer MA (2010) Toughening of polylactide with polymerized soybean oil. Macromolecules 43:1807–1814

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh S, Mohanty AK, Sugie T, Takai Y, Hamada H (2008) Renewable resource based biocomposites from natural fiber and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) bioplastic. Compos A: Appl Sci Manuf 39:875–886

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song C, Ma C, Zhang Y, Wang T, Wu L, Wang P, Liu Y, Li Q, Zhang J, Dai Q, Zou C, Sun L, Mao H (2018) Heavy-duty diesel vehicles dominate vehicle emissions in a tunnel study in northern China. Sci Total Environ 637-638:431–442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart R (2010) Automotive composites offer lighter solutions. Reinf Plast 54:22–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland JW, Adler DP, Haapala KR, Kumar V (2008) A comparison of manufacturing and remanufacturing energy intensities with application to diesel engine production. CIRP Ann 57:5–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takayama T, Komabayasi K, Itou M, Miyake Y (2009) Development of bio-based plastics for injection molding. SAE Int J Mater Manuf 2:12–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takeshita T (2012) Assessing the co-benefits of CO2 mitigation on air pollutants emissions from road vehicles. Appl Energy 97:225–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thakur VK, Thakur MK, Raghavan P, Kessler MR (2014) Progress in green polymer composites from lignin for multifunctional applications: a review. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 2:1072–1092

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Todor M-P, Kiss I (2016) Systematic approach on materials selection in the automotive industry for making vehicles lighter, safer and more fuel–efficient. Appl Eng Lett 1:91–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Xing Q, Ruch D, Dubois P, Wu L, Wang W-J (2017) Biodegradable and high-performance poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)–lignin UV-blocking films. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 5:10342–10351

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Evans JR (2012) Approaches to the manufacture of layered nanocomposites. Appl Surf Sci 258:2098–2102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zini E, Scandola M (2011) Green composites: an overview. Polym Compos 32:1905–1915

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author would like to appreciate National Research Foundation (NRF) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) for funding the fellowship leading to this manuscript. Appreciation also goes to the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, for providing the platform to conduct this research. The constructive comments received from the two anonymous reviewers and the guest editor are appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sustainable Process Engineering, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Oludaisi Adekomaya

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria

    Oludaisi Adekomaya

Authors
  1. Oludaisi Adekomaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oludaisi Adekomaya.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Adekomaya, O. Adaption of green composite in automotive part replacements: discussions on material modification and future patronage. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 8807–8813 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07557-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07557-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation