Metal-Plastic laminates for Vehicle Weight Reduction

A laminate combines the material optimization achievable with a composite with the manufacturing convenience and economy offered by a sheet material. In stiffness limited applications, a laminate can provide greater weight savings than are obtainable with other alternate materials at a potentially much lower cost. This paper describes the factors which influence the design of a laminate, the benefits offered by such laminates, and the characteristics of laminates which might limit their application.