Natural Fiber Composites with Nanomaterials: A Sustainable Alternative to Metals in the Automotive Industry Ford Motor Company

Format:

Book

Conference/Event

Author/Creator:

Corrêa, Karytha, author.

Contributor:

Cabral, Gabriel

Chaves, Matheus

Santiago, Marcelo

Veloso, Verônica

Conference Name:

SAE Brasil 2025 Congress (2025-10-07 : Sao Paolo, Brazil)

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource cm

Place of Publication:

Warrendale, PA SAE International 2025

Summary:

This paper analyzes the potential of combining natural fibers with nanomaterials to develop advanced composites for automotive sector applications, providing a sustainable alternative to parts traditionally produced with metallic materials. The metallic alloy in the automotive industry is widely used in vehicle manufacturing, but faces significant challenges, such as high production costs, high weight, susceptibility to corrosion, and rigorous recycling processes. Natural fibers stand out for favorable mechanical properties, low cost, low weight, and eco-friendly material, making promising alternatives to metals and synthetic fibers. The combination of natural fibers and nanomaterials creates composites with improved mechanical and thermal, reducing any limitations inherent to natural fibers. Therefore, composites combined, called hybrid, have a high potential for use in various automotive components, such as in structural and non-structural applications. This study also analyzes the performance of these composites with metals used in the automotive industry. Considering aspects such as mechanical properties, thermal properties, corrosion resistance, collision behavior, weight, economic and sustainable impact, and social impact, hybrid composites presented greater advantages for applications than metal alloys. A finite element analysis (FEA) is conducted to assess the viability of composites, evaluating key mechanical parameters under realistic loading conditions. The methodology of the computational simulation quantitatively evaluates the structural behavior of the new hybrid composites that can be used for applications in vehicles and the automotive industry. The environmental impact and economic viability of replacing metals with natural fiber-reinforced composites are also discussed, highlighting the advantages in terms of sustainability and energy efficiency. Finally, the technical challenges and future perspectives for implementing these composite materials are presented, analyzing the optimization and performance to facilitate large-scale production in the automotive sector

Notes:

Vendor supplied data

Publisher Number:

2025-36-0040

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license