ABSTRACT
Composite materials came into the automotive arena to fulfil the needs of small post-war car manufacturers. The basic principle involved in reinforced plastic production is the combination of polyester resin and reinforcing fibres to form a solid structure. Glass-reinforced plastics are essentially a family of structural materials which utilize a very wide range of thermoplastic and thermosetting resins. Most synthetic resins are made from oil. The resin is an essential component of glass fibre—reinforced plastic. Polymer matrix composite (PMC) is the type of composites used in modern vehicle bodywork. This type of composite is also known as fibre-reinforced polymers (or plastics) (FRP). The mechanical properties of the composite material are usually dominated by the contribution of the reinforcing fibres. The repair of reinforced composite bodies and component panels is not difficult, and unless major damage has been sustained it can quite readily be carried out by a competent body repair shop.
