---
title: "What cars and driving things are made of"
description: "7 cars and driving objects broken down component by component, with the reason behind each material choice."
url: https://atoneplace.net/made-of/vehicle/
site: "At One Place"
---

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