MATERIALS CHEMISTRY ISSUES RELATED TO ADVANCED MATERIALS APPLICATIONSIN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

The driving force behind the research on advanced materials has largel y been aerospace and defense applications. In such applications the cu stomer-induced limitations and infrastructural economic factors are se condary to the application-oriented parameters. Automobiles, on the ot her hand, represent the primary consumers of advanced materials in civ ilian applications. Automobiles are high-technology, low-cost machines which need to be robust for various climatic conditions and driver be havior. Advanced materials play an important role in the design and fa brication of various components of automobiles, and the use of new mat erials continues to increase. Recent interest in developing highly fue l efficient vehicles with low emissions has focused efforts toward mat erials, designs, and devices and is spurring research into advanced ma terials for weight reduction. The goal is to achieve fuel efficiency b y weight reduction and a more efficient powertrain. In this review art icle, we summarize the efforts of the 1970s and the 1980s on the devel opment of ceramic gas turbine engines with emphasis on materials proce ssing and properties. This is followed by a discussion of metal-matrix composites and reinforced plastics, the structural materials of curre nt interest. The materials issues related to automotive exhaust reduct ion catalysts are discussed since materials continue to play an import ant role in designing catalysts to meet the new EPA regulations. The u nderstanding of materials chemistry is expected to play an important r ole in designing new materials and developing new processes that can b e used economically to mass produce vehicle components. We also summar ize reports based on ceramic precursor technology and sol-gel processe s that show promise in the fabrication of automotive components.