Potential of Natural/Synthetic Hybrid Composites for Automotive Applications

Natural/synthetic fiber reinforced hybrid composite materials are attractive because of their unique characteristics like, high mechanical and thermal properties, low cost and low specific weight. When compared to single fiber-reinforced materials, hybrid composites possessed better characteristics (i.e., mechanical, thermal). Many engineering fields use hybrid composites and various interior and exterior parts in the automobile industry. This chapter discusses the mechanical and thermal properties of the hybrid natural/synthetic fiber reinforced thermoset and thermoplastic polymer-based composites and their automotive application.