Today¿s automotive industry is challenged by ever more stringent demands to reduce fuel
consumption and exhaust emissions. Lightweight design and increased use of advanced plastic
components will be crucial for the next generation of cars complying with legislation.
Engineers and manufacturers who develop and produce polymer-based components for automotives
are under pressure to reduce developing times and to optimize production processes for quality
and economic viability. Tools of choice are computer-aided selection of polymers in combination
with mathematical simulation for both material properties and production processes. They
provide crucial help in finding innovative and economical solutions when designing polymer
applications for modern cars. This unique and timely book provides theoretical as well as
practical reviews of novel polymer applications for automotive engineering covering material
selection simulation prototyping and manufacturing. 19 industrial case studies illustrate
current polymer applications for the exterior of passenger cars and commercial vehicles made in
Europe. These studies describe component-specific and vehicle-specific solutions providing
expert insights into current developments in the polymer industry as well as novel component
production and most importantly their innovative implementation into industrial practice.
