Materials Today: Proceedings 46 (2021) 520–527

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Materials Today: Proceedings

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/matpr

Review on material selection, tailoring of material properties and ageing

of composites with special reference to applicability in automotive
suspension
Sudhir W. Burande ⇑, Deepak V. Bhope
Department of Mechanical Engineering, RCERT, Chandrapur, M.S., India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Weight reduction and quest for smart and sophisticated and sustainable material is at the forefront of
Received 14 October 2020 industries due to the stringent emission norms worldwide. Fortunately composites satisfy the criteria
Accepted 25 October 2020 due to inbuilt properties like, corrosion resistance, higher stiffness, and high strength to weight ratio.
Available online 10 December 2020
Further, due to the flexibility in tailoring and enhancement of the material properties, cooking the com-
posites with desired properties in tune with the customized requirement pave the ways for hybridization
Keywords: in composites. Composite materials are being exploited for the broad range of applications ranging from
Fiber metal laminates
aerospace to automotive industries. The current study focuses on the research contributions in suitability
Hybrid composites
Interfacial bonding
of material, tailoring and cooking composites for required material properties, enhancing the material
Ageing properties and studying the environmental degradation of composites in context of applicability in auto-
Fillers motive suspension application.
Ó 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 2nd International Con-
ference on Manufacturing Material Science and Engineering.

1. Introduction Strict emission norms and need of coming up with strategies to

In the recent times, smart material, sophisticated material, sus-
tainable material, are the buzz words. The urgent need of the hour
is to beat the market competition, comply the stringent emission
norms imposed for protecting environment, saving the energy defi-
cient world, and reduce pollution to save mother Earth. Use of
modern material for weight reduction has emerged as the most
promising option which offers fuel economy without compromis-
ing the performance of vehicle. Introduction of lightweight com-
posite material with at par strength and much more appealing
properties than conventional material, has made the industries
and researchers more fascinated about possible applicability of
composites in various domains. Promising attributes of material
properties like, high corrosion resistance, optimum strength to
weight ratio, excellent stiffness, tailorabilty, and numerous possi-
bilities of functional inculcation [1]. Integration and material prop-
erties enhancement makes the fiber reinforced composite quite
interesting among the research fraternity [2 5].
⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.:91-9822231418.
E-mail address: sudhirwb@rediffmail.com (S.W. Burande).
deliver prolong mileage of fuel vehicles, the industries have grad-
ually expanded their focus from application of composites in dec-
orative spares of automotive to more meaningful and crucial
structural parts like leaf springs, transmission shaft, chassis and
much more [3].
2. Material and material selection
Smooth and satisfactory performance of composite leaf spring
demands selection of suitable composite material in tune with
the working conditionals and functional requirement of composite
leaf spring [7].
It is well established and quite obvious fact that suspension
springs are meant for absorbing, storing and releasing energy so
as to deal with the road irregularities and undulation.
To ensure the superior riding comfort and lower down probable
damages to road, energy storing capacity of the leaf spring is a pri-
mary design variable which needs to be taken care of Strain energy
stored in the material is correlated as-
U ¼ r2=qE ð1Þ

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.10.741
2214-7853/Ó 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 2nd International Conference on Manufacturing Material Science and Engineering.
S.W. Burande and D.V. Bhope
Here, - E- Modulus of elasticity, r-Permissible stress, q- density of
material.
So the working conditions of leaf spring needs a material which
should have higher strength and relatively lower weight, higher
flexure strength, lower value of elasticity modulus. Luckily, rein-
forced composites have these characteristics [8]. Reinforced com-
posite is a bi-phase or a multi-phase material constituting two or
more materials which may differ in composition, mechanical prop-
erties or shape, but can stay bonded together while retaining their
properties along with identity [4,9].
As per ‘Kelly’ [10], the concept of composite can be illustrated
by example of bimetallic strips used in thermostats devices. When
two independent and similar pieces of brass and iron are heated
simultaneously, due to different coefficient of thermal expansion,
each strip will extend and undergo different magnitude of elonga-
tion. But if the same strips are joined together to form a composite
strip and then heated, the greater extension of brass strip forces
the iron strip to bend which in turn forces the brass to bend. The
bimetallic strip example forms the concept of composites.
Two component composite exhibits following behaviour of
properties –
(i) Either material if used alone would be useless for any appli-
cability, if taken together the new material has entirely dif-
ferent properties.
(ii) Two components of different materials act together and
equalize the strains produced in individual phase of
material.
Fig. 1. Classification of the composites [24].
521
Materials Today: Proceedings 46 (2021) 520–527
But for exhibiting such behaviour by material there has to be
reasonable adhesion or interfacial bonding between different
phases of material which is met by composites. Naturally interfa-
cial bond of adhesion emerges as a crucial factor which needs to
be designed and ensured properly [9].
2.1. Classification of composites
Based on the origin of material, shape and type of material two
or more material phases, the composites are classified in several
ways as shown in Fig. 1.
2.2. Reinforcing fiber
The primary function of reinforcing element is to improve the
properties of Matrix which all otherwise is weak in mechanical
strength. Fiber reinforced composite may be reinforced by either
synthetic fibres e.g. kevlar, carbon, glass etc. or natural fibres like
bamboo, sisal, jute, banana, etc. [6].
Synthetic fibres are good in specific strength as in contrast to
natural fibres and relatively light in weight which makes them
more popular in aerospace industries. From Past few decades,
due to environmental constraints, researchers quest for digging
out more sustainable, biodegradable and eco-friendly material as
an alternative to synthetic fibers, have came up with natural fibers
as potential alternative to synthetic fibers, partially or fully in
many area of application by exploiting the philosophy of
S.W. Burande and D.V. Bhope
Table 1
Few important research studies on enhancement of Mechanical properties by Fiber level Hybridization.
Hybrid Composite
Carbon-Flax Hybrid
Composite [26]
Sisal &Glass fiber hybrid bio
composite [27]
Banana, Sisal, Glass fiber
Hybrid composite [28]
Carbon, Steel fiber Hybrid
composite [29]
Glass, Steel fiber reinforced
hybrid composite [30]
Glass fiber Shape memory
hybridised Composite
[31]
E-glass -Kevlar 29 fiber
reinforced hybrid
composite [32]
Materials Today: Proceedings 46 (2021) 520–527
Fig. 2. Classification of fibers [24].
Constituent Fibers- Material Property Investigated/Test Finding Validation Model
Matrix Carried out
Carbon fiber, Flax Tensile, Flexural, Impact and Improvement in-Tensile modulus, Tensile Rule of mixtures model &
fiber Vibration tests. Strength, Damping Ratio, Weight savings Halpin-Tsai model
Sisal (SF) and Glass Density, Fogging, Acoustic, Enhanced Dynamic Mechanical
fiber Matrix- Mechanical, Thermal, and  flexural strength Analysis (DMA) & ANOVA
Polypropylene Rheological  Thermal properties
Limited impact on –Impact strength,
Acoustic behaviour, & Rheological
properties.
Banana, Sisal & Glass Impact strength, Flexural strength, Improvements in-
fiber Matrix-Epoxy Tensile strength, Interfacial Analysis  Tensile Strength
by SEM  Flexure Strength
 Impact Strength
Interfacial analysis by SEM revealed-
 Poor adhesion
 Presence of voids and fiber pullout
Carbon Fiber & Interlaminar fracture toughness, Significant improvements in Mode-I
Stainless Steel fiber Young’s Modulus, Tensile strength Fracture energy
Glass fiberSteel Energy dissipation, Tensile strength, Improvement in- Constitutive model
fiberMatrix-Epoxy and Stiffness  Tensile Strength Armstrong–Frederick
Energy dissipation plasticity model
 Stiffness
Glass fiber & Shape Damping ratio Improved damping performance Logarithmic decay
memory method.
E-glass Kevlar 29 High velocity impact Residual Improvement in -Toughness & Ductility Dynamic penetration
fiber Velocity Estimation Model Modified energy
model
522
S.W. Burande and D.V. Bhope
hybridization [5]. Based on different criteria, fibers can be classified
as shown in Fig. 2 ahead.
2.3. Binding matrix
Binding matrix is supposed to grip fibers at right orientation
and pass on externally applied load to the fibers inside and simul-
taneously protects the fibers from environmental damage and ero-
sion. The crucial issue which need to be focussed and taken care is
the inherent brittleness and chipping failure which may prove
catastrophic to the health of composites. Chipping in matrix will
damage fiber and may cause delamination failure [7]. Matrix mate-
rial used in composites can be polymeric, ceramic or even though
metallic, depending on the source. Based on reticulation involved
in microstructure, Polymers can be classified as - thermosetting
polymers, thermoplastic polymers and rubbers. Matrix materials
which are generally used in composites for suspension application
are epoxy resins and polyester resins as they satisfy the perfor-
mance requirement of the application [24].
3. Enhancement of material properties
3.1. Hybridization - paving the way for tailoring properties of
composites
Composites, which constitute one or more different type of
reinforcing fibers or fillers added in the matrix are generally
referred to as Hybrid composites [25].
Hybridization by incorporation of additional fibres with single
fibre into polymer matrix paves the ways for tailoring properties
of FRP. Hybridization has got enormous potential of enhancing
the properties of FRP due to reasons briefed ahead-
(i) While hybridizing, two fibres taken, would have same
length, but they can essentially and intentionally differ in
diameter which offers more effective area for two phase
interaction in composites, thereby enhancing the adhesion
between fiber matrix which in turn provides better strength
to the modified recipe of material called Hybrid composite.
This will also assist in uniform transfer of stress in the
material.
(ii) The fibre with low elongation will initially undergo failure
and break, thereafter the fiber having more elongation or
flexure strength will bear the load, thereby protecting
matrix failure. This causes smooth sharing of load between
matrix and fiber, resulting better performance [24].
Table 2
Summary of referred studies on Fiber Metal Laminates.
Ref./Year Fiber Metal
[8] 2020 E-Glass Steel
[38] 2018 Carbon and Glass fiber Matrix- Alluminium
Polypropylene
[30] 2018 WovenGlass fiberMatrix-Epoxy Satinless steel fiber
[29] 2015 Glassl fiber Stainless Steel Wire Mesh &
Aluminium Alloy
[41] 2009 Self-reinforced polypropylene(SRPP) Aluminium Alloy
composite
[34] 2005 Glass fiber Aluminium
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Materials Today: Proceedings 46 (2021) 520–527
In the recent past, industries and research fraternity has
focussed and contributed to the substantial extent, on hybridizing
the conventional fiber reinforced composites by incorporating
additional fibers natural [11] or synthetic based on the require-
ment of desired mechanical property. The limitation of one fiber
type can be counteracted by better performance of other fiber type
due to which cost effective and optimum performing recipe of
composite could be achieved [25,26]. Few of the important contri-
butions in the literature are summarised in Table1.
3.2. Fiber metal laminates
Since last few decades, aircraft and automotive industries and
researchers are striving for exploration of novel material which
could satisfy the criteria of high-performance, and lightweight
structures to come up with mileage effective, environment friendly
material. This quest has triggered the strong trend towards launch
of new and refined models of fiber metal laminates (FML) with
novel kind of hybridization among the materials [3] These are
the recipe of material in which sheets of metals or alloys and lam-
inas of composites are used together to arrive at a better material
and the properties. Synergy between fibre and metal in a compos-
ite provides dual benefits derived from two different materials
[32,33].
Due to constituent level hybridization in the form of metals and
fibers, composites can deliver excellent impact strength, handsome
fatigue strength, optimum weight, making it a promising and
potential material for aerospace application. Two different con-
stituents i.e. Metal and laminate can be bonded together either
by mechanical approaches like z-pinning, 3D weaving, braiding,
tufting etc or by adhesion between constituents. As compared to
mechanical bonding, the adhesive bonding approach has shown
to offer better fatigue performance in fiber metal composites [33].
During past few decades, researcher and industries have
explored and exploited the area of Fiber metal laminate and have
contributed substantially for designing and developing various
novel kind of FM A few of the important studies have been sum-
marised in Table 2.
3.3. Synergistic effect of different filler
Improvement and tailoring of material properties as per cus-
tomised requirement of the application through the philosophy
of material hybridization by using certain additives in the form
of micro or nano fillers and exploiting the synergistic effect of
the same with resins is being focussed to the greater depths by
Findings/Reviews
Promising improvement in Wear resistance
Failure modes exhibited -DelaminationMatrix CrackingFiber
brakage
Improvement in-
 Tensile Strength
 Stiffness
 Energy
 dissipation
Significant improvements in
 tensile
 Compressive
 flexure strength
Enhanced properties -
 Impact.
 Tensile Strength
Enhancement in-Tensile strengthModulus of materialHigh
corrosion resistance
S.W. Burande and D.V. Bhope Materials Today: Proceedings 46 (2021) 520–527

many researchers and industries in the recent times [3,4]. Syner-
gistic effect of different fillers, additive and inclusions in the form
of whiskers have been studied extensively, few of the prominent
studies are tabulated in Table 3.
3.4. Mitigating delamination
The reason for ever rising demand of composites, being hot pick
of researchers, is attributed to excellent corrosion resistance, high
strength, relatively low weight, fatigue resistance, and flexibility to
be manufactured in complex shapes. However Composites are sus-
ceptible to delamination, usually caused due to excessive inter-
laminar stresses at interfaces of composite laminates, if ignored,
delamination may lead to lowering of material strength, stiffness
and subsequently to catastrophic failure [4]. Mitigating delamina-
tion so as to ensure and strengthen interfacial bonding between
laminae of composites can be addressed by several methods like
z-pinning, 3D weaving, braiding, and tufting [1].
Survey of literature reveals that mechanical techniques like
stitching, braiding, weaving, have been widely applied by many
researchers for enhancing through thickness strength of laminates.
These techniques have contributed substantially for improving
toughness, shear strength, notch sensitivity. But even though there
has been enhancement in through thickness properties but it is at
the cost of inferior in-plane properties, reported by some research-
ers [33]. The reasons being, disorientation in fiber due to stitching
and weaving and accrual of extra resin at stitched locations, which
in turn becomes prone to the generation of micro cracks, during
curing. In the recent past, researchers have proposed and demon-
strated a novel approach of adding micro, nano-fillers in resins
for enhancement of interfacial properties and bonding strength
without compromising in-plane properties of fiber reinforced poly-
mers [4].
3.5. Fiber surface modification and treatment
Interfacial bonding between fiber and matrix is essentially gov-
erned by the adhesion involved between two phases of this hetero-
geneous composite material [23]. Enhancing and ensuring the
interfacial bond between fiber and matrix is a hotspot of ongoing
research. Industries and researchers have floated, adopted, experi-
mented many novel strategies, some prominent and relevant are
summarised in the Table 4.
Interfacial adhesion improvement is studied in this work,
where, two stage approach which includes liquid-phase oxidation
and grafting of Silane coupling agents, to modify surface of carbon
fiber. The results obtained indicates, substantial enhancement in
interlaminar shear strength, flexural strength and tensile strength
of the composite. Scanning electron microscope technique
revealed, shift of failure mechanism from interface de-bonding to
deformation and break of matrix [14].
Glass fiber suffers from the drawback of low interlaminar
strength which has been improved by addition of hierarchical
nano-particles on fibers (e.g. carbon nano-tubes (CNTs) Proper dis-
persion of CNT in polymer matrix helps to enhance the transfer of
load between matrix to fiber. Researchers have proposed two dif-
ferent strategies, which includes dispersal of carbon nanotubes in
epoxy matrix and directly growing carbon nano-tubes on surface
of glass fibers. Study has endorsed enhancement of 113% in
mode-I fracture toughness and 119% in tensile strength of unidi-
rectional composite [15].
Aramid fiber is relatively weak in interfacial adhesion which
restricts the wide applicability of the Aramid fiber based compos-
ites. Aramid fibers were treated by using a non-destructive grafting
method in which NH in benzimidazole unit was used along with
SiO2 structure. This has offered additional roughness to the surface
of fiber thereby providing the better adhesion at interface and sub-
stantial enhancement in associated shear strength [16].
The study of Graphene oxide with polyhedral oligomeric
silsesquioxane (POSS) grafting on carbon fiber has shown signifi-
cant enhancement in interfacial strength due to Graphene oxide
linkage and presence of POSS in the fiber composites. Morpholog-
ical modifications in the surface of fiber were captured by using
scanning electron microscope [17].
Karunagaran N et al. [18] investigated the effect of sulfuric acid
and sodium hydroxide solution separately on glass fiber behaviour
while wire mesh of stainless steel has been treated either by sand
blasting or electro-dissolution. Due to modified morphology of

Table 3
Summary of selected studies on the effect of filler particle inclusion on the mechanical properties of hybrid composites.

Base Material Filler Additive Impact on property Finding /Review

Neat Epoxy. [35] Aluminum Oxide, Graphite, Tensile strength Enhanced mechanical properties due to infusion effect of SiC,
Silicon Carbide Graphite, & Aluminium oxide nano-particles on the epoxy
Carbon fiber-reinforced Multi-walled carbon nano- Mode- I fracture toughness Enhancement in the mode-I energy release rate and toughness
composites [36] tube and Multilayer grapheme
at interfaces.
Glare fiber-metal Aluminium, Copper Titanium Interlaminar shear, flexure, tensile, Reduction in interlaminar shear, flexural & tensile strengths for
laminate [37] oxide, Silica, Aluminium oxide strength Titanium oxide and Nano-clay filled Glare Improvement in tensile &
and Nano-clay flexural failure strains on addition of Nano-clay to Glare.
Glass fiber/epoxy Graphene oxide (GO) and Interlaminar fracture and thermo- Increase in- Glass transition temperature, Storage modulus& Mode-I
composites [38] modified GO mechanical properties fracture toughness, Substantial forward shifting of degradation
temperatures.
Carbon Fiber Whiskers of Silicon Carbide Interlaminar Fracture toughness in Interlaminar fracture toughness GIC enhancement
Composites [39] Mode-I Interlaminar
Glass fabric/epoxy Perlite particulate Interlaminar fracture behaviour- Optimum Mode- I and mode - II interlaminar fracture strength,
composites [40] Mode I and Mode II Mechanical Tensile & flexural strength, reached maximum for 1% and 5% perlite
properties of composite. content.
Alumina Nano Graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) Wear resistance Increase in fracture toughness and decreased brittleness index.
composites [41] Improved Scratch resistance
Epoxy Resin [12] Wollastonite (CaSiO3) micro- Impact strength, Flexural strength, Effective improvement in mechanical properties of the resin for filler
particles Hardness and Thermo gravimetric content 1–2 wt%
analysis
Aluminium metal Titanium Carbide Specific wear rate and Coefficient of Significant effect on specific wear rate & coefficient of friction due to
matrix composite friction weight % of TiC reinforcement. Better wear resistance exhibited due
[13] to Titanium carbide inclusion.

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S.W. Burande and D.V. Bhope Materials Today: Proceedings 46 (2021) 520–527

Table 4
Summary of Research Contributions on enhancement of interfacial strength by treatment of fibers, matrix or composites.

Refs/Year. Fiber Treatment Effect

[14] 2020 C-F C Combination of strategy, including liquid-phase oxidation and grafting Improvement in tensile strength, flexural strength and
of silane coupling agents interlaminar shear strength.
[15] 2020 G-F  Dispersal of Carbon nanotube in epoxy. Enhancement in Fracture toughness
 Growing Carbon nanotube on glass fiber.
[16] 2018 Aramid Grafting of silane coupling agents (SCAs Improved interfacial shear strength
[17] 2016 C-F Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and Graphene oxideGrafted carbon Enhanced wettability and interface area of suface of
fiber fiber, which in turn enhances interfacial strength.
[18] 2016 G-F & SS Wire  G-F fabric surface treated sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide solution. Improved impact, flexural, tensile, inter-laminar shear
mesh hybrid  Surface treatment of SS wire mesh by sand blasting or electro strength.
dissolution.
[19] 2015 C-F & G-F Fiber surface coating by Catecholamine polymers poly-dopamine and Improved interfacial shear strength
poly-norepinephrine
[20] 2013 C-F C-F coating by Aqueous suspension deposition method by carboxylic acid- Improved interfacial shear strength
functionalized and hydroxyl-functionalized carbon nanotubes
[21] 2010 Jute fiber Siloxane treatment followed by alkalization of Jute fabric Tensile strength, Flexural strength, & Interlaminar shear
strength
[22] 2000 C-F C-F anodic surface treatment Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS)

Acronyms: GF, Glass Fiber; CF, Carbon Fiber; SS, Stainless Steel.

Table 5
Summary of relevant Research studies referred on effect of exposure to various environments on mechanical properties of fiber reinforced hybrid composites.

Composite/ FML Environmental Factors Impact property Effect/Findings

Glass fibre/epoxy composite &
Stainless steel glass fibre/
epoxy fibre metal laminate
[42]
Composites &Alloys [43]
Jute fiber and Aluminium Oxide
filler based polymer
composites [44]
Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP)
composites [45]
Glass fibre reinforced polymer,
Stainless Steel/Rubber [47]
Glass–fiber-reinforced polymer
composite [48]
Distilled water & sea water at different Tensile & FML- Reduction in Tensile & compressive strengths of SS GF/E
temperatures up to three months Compressive composite - Highest reduction in tensile & compressive strengths
strength in distilled water. Failure mode- Breakage & delamination
degradation
Temperature Ductile to Brittle Mild Hygrothermal attack increases ductilty and
transition (DBT) crashworthiness. DBTT conclusively reduces fatigue life
leading to fatigue
Dry and wet conditions. Micro-hardness, Distilled water bath for 10 days duration. Drop in Mechanical
Flexural and Impact properties. Water absorption rate is a function of fiber content
strength and filler content.
Water condensation exposure to Erosion of surface of Erosion of polymer matrix surface in composites subjected to
Ultraviolet radiation, & elevated polymer matrices in cyclic exposure of Water condensation and ultraviolet radiation.
temperature for approximately 1000 h. composites. Proposed model of synergistic aging under UV &water
condensation
Moist, Hot, & moist- hot environmental Peel tests for EPDM (ethylene propylenediene) rubbers Protects steel/GFRP
exposure. Ageing degradation through interfacial strength hybrid structures form harsh environmental
Peel test.
Moisture Hot/wet environment Gravimetric Proposed analytical model based on 1-D moisture diffusion
Simulated 100-year aging duration experiments, theory. Fully saturated moisture uptake after 26-year of ageing

Acronyms: FML, Fiber metal laminate; GRP, Glass reinforced polymer; DBT, Ductile to Brittle transition; 1D, One dimensional.

glass fibers, composite has exhibited superior impact strength, 4. Conclusion

flexural, tensile, and inter-laminar shear strength.
Based on the exhaustive studies which have been referred
throughout the review article so as to find out the feasibility and
3.6. Environmental degradation and ageing
potential applicability of composites, the customized tailoring
ways out, for enhancement of mechanical properties and the
Fiber reinforced composites do posses two or more physically
strategies undertaken, by various researchers to counteract ageing
distinct phases of different materials which while working, interact
and degradation of composite materials, following key findings can
in a complex manner. The complexity again spoils when they are
be highlighted and identified as briefed out ahead.
subjected to severe climatic factors like temperature and moisture.
Various Synthetic Fiber reinforced composites have been com-
So many environmental factors interacting in a kind of complex
prehensively and systematically studied in the light of suspension
and unpredictable way contributes to the substantial extent and
applications and many commercially available products have also
decides the end applicability of the material [46]. Many times, field
been launched by researchers and industrialists.
life exposure of the material to UV radiation, moisture, tempera-
Natural fiber reinforced composites are still not gaining
ture and time simultaneously demands the consideration of syner-
momentum in spite of having recyclability, bio-degradability, and
gistic effect of environmental degradation factors to really capture
cost effectiveness, due to tendency of moisture absorption which
the behaviour of degraded material [48].
leads to degradation in mechanical properties. They have been
Lot many studies have been devoted to the environmental age-
explored extensively but put to the limited application in the form
ing and degradations of composites subjected to a large variety of
of hybridising fiber. Behaviour of natural fiber composites and its
aggressive climate. Some of the recent and important studies along
response to environmental degradation has been studied limited.
with their contributions have been tabulated in Table 5.
525
S.W. Burande and D.V. Bhope Materials Today: Proceedings 46 (2021) 520–527

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