Automotive Developments in Reinforced Plastics

There has been a steady growth in the use of plastics due to better understanding of its performance, advantages, and limitations. Since 1960, reinforced plastics have played a greater role in the automotive industry in exterior applications. This paper explores the development and uses of glassfiber reinforced thermoplastics and glassfiber reinforced polyesters. Although many of the problems of these reinforced plastics have been solved, many refinements are needed; however, with these refinements, the use of reinforced plastics in the automotive industry will substantially increase by 1975, and thereafter.