Cars and driving — what they are made of
7 cars and driving objects, broken down.
| Object | Made of |
|---|---|
| Car tire | Several different rubber compounds reinforced with steel and textile cord — closer to a composite than to rubber. |
| Car battery | Lead and lead dioxide plates in dilute sulfuric acid, in a polypropylene case — mostly lead, by weight. |
| Airbag | A coated nylon bag inflated by a small solid-propellant gas generator in about thirty milliseconds. |
| Brake pad | A friction compound of fibres, fillers and resin, moulded and bonded onto a steel backing plate. |
| Windshield (windscreen) | Two sheets of ordinary glass laminated to a tough plastic interlayer, which is what stops it falling out. |
| Spark plug | A ceramic insulator carrying a centre electrode of nickel, platinum or iridium inside a steel shell. |
| Seatbelt | Woven polyester webbing designed to stretch a controlled amount, plus a locking retractor and a pyrotechnic pretensioner. |
- Car tire Several different rubber compounds reinforced with steel and textile cord — closer to a composite than to rubber.
- Car battery Lead and lead dioxide plates in dilute sulfuric acid, in a polypropylene case — mostly lead, by weight.
- Airbag A coated nylon bag inflated by a small solid-propellant gas generator in about thirty milliseconds.
- Brake pad A friction compound of fibres, fillers and resin, moulded and bonded onto a steel backing plate.
- Windshield (windscreen) Two sheets of ordinary glass laminated to a tough plastic interlayer, which is what stops it falling out.
- Spark plug A ceramic insulator carrying a centre electrode of nickel, platinum or iridium inside a steel shell.
- Seatbelt Woven polyester webbing designed to stretch a controlled amount, plus a locking retractor and a pyrotechnic pretensioner.