Short Literature Survey on Fiber-Reinforced Hybrid Composites

Conventional leaf springs used in the automobile industry are usually produced from high-carbon steel. But, it has some drawbacks such as susceptibility to corrosion, high weight, long-term fatigue problems, etc. So, to overcome these issues, the automotive industry has started to replace conventional leaf springs with polymer composite-based mono-leaf springs. Recently, hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer composite leaf springs have gained considerable attention due to their better mechanical properties like high strength, high stiffness, low weight, and high corrosion resistance. However, the physical, mechanical, and tribological properties of the fabricated leaf spring mainly depend upon the method of fabrication, properties of the material, type and content of reinforcement, etc. Hence, this review article aims to provide an overview of composite materials, their classification, and the processing of polymer matrix composite. Finally, this review article summarizes the recent investigations carried out by various researchers to achieve high mechanical properties, less deflection, and higher weight reduction.