Use of Structural Long Glass Fiber Composites to Replace Steel in Automotive Running Boards

The use of injection molded long glass fiber composites to replace metal in automotive components continues to find success. This paper will discuss the use of these composites to replace steel in running boards, a very demanding application. The success of an injection molded-in-color composite running board on a 2004 mid size SUV has opened the door to realize the benefits of composites in these large exterior parts. These benefits include significant weight reduction, corrosion resistance, scratch and mar resistance, design flexibility, and cost out opportunities. 40% long glass fiber polypropylene was formulated to meet the rigorous structural and aesthetic requirements demanded by global OEM manufacturers for these large structural parts.