Materials development in transportation industry: Fuel consumption, safety and recycling
Ahmed Elsabbagh
Abstract
Development in materials used in transportation industry is governed by three factors namely, increasing fuel price, strict regulations for passenger safety and fulfilment of carbon neutrality. Safety regulations encourage materials to meet criteria of energy absorption, fire retardance and safe crash behavior. Composites or hybrids have relative advantages. Saving fuel consumption promotes reducing the weight of the vehicle. Composites and new alloys like high strength steel grades are competing. Recycling of material targets the low carbon footprint. Composites are not favorable in this aspect. Global directives are issued to put the recycling process in an obligatory mechanism. Recycling fees are levied on the new transportation vehicles and divided between the whole chain stakeholders. Case studies are presented where material development promotes one of the competing approaches, namely composites or hybrids or even going back to mono-materials like steels. This work perceives the question about these approaches regarding these three factors.