CERAMICS IN THE REST OF YOUR CAR OTHE
we still aren't done finding applications for ceramics in your car.
Besides windows, other parts of the auto body make use of glass.
Many cars have body panels made of plastic reinforced with glass fibers.
These panels are much lighter than metal panels and will never rust.
Their low weight helps give new cars better gas mileage.
The panels also reduce noise and vibrations and are less expensive to make. Hoods, bumper beams, fenders, roof panels, door panels, trunk lids, and spare-tire carriers all have been made out of glass-fiber-reinforced plastics.
Some composites used in cars and trucks are as fascinating as those used in airplanes.
One example is an alternative drive shaft made of a mixture of glass and carbon fibers in epoxy or another advanced polymer.
Metal drive shafts for long vehicles, like some trucks and sport utility vehicles, have to be made in two shorter sections to avoid vibration-instability problems, they need a rigid support structure where they are attached to each other, which adds a lot of complexity and extra parts to the vehicle.
A single-piece composite drive shaft that doesn't need midspan support really reduces cost and weight.
The other advanced composite, made of glass fibers in epoxy, is used for leaf springs.
Leaf springs are used in many vehicles, including trailers and light trucks. They support the weight of the vehicle resting on the axles and absorb some of the shock when hit a rut or you bump.
Composite leaf springs weigh up to 80 percent less than steel leaf springs