WARRENDALE, Pa., May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the increased use of plastics in automotive engineering, a new SAE International book examines the applications and advantages of plastics in passenger vehicles.

Authored by Kalyan Sehanobish, "Engineering Plastics and Plastic Composites in Automotive Applications" covers a wide range of uses for plastics in vehicles. Also discussed are the economic and design benefits that plastics offer.

"In most cases, plastics are cost effective while providing automakers with the design freedom to incorporate safety, styling and comfort into vehicles," Sehanobish said.

Chapters look at how plastics can be applied to different parts of a vehicle, including its interior; exterior; horizontal and vertical body panels; powertrain; fuel systems; and lighting and wheel systems. The book concludes with the author's projection of what opportunities lie ahead for plastics in the automotive industry.

The book is recommended for industry executives and decision-makers interested in learning more about incorporating plastics into their engineering processes.

Sehanobish is a senior scientist with Dow Automotive Research, where he has technical responsibility for most of the company's new business opportunities. A leading expert in materials science, Sehanobish was one of the early pioneers in developing applications for polyolefins, plastomers and elastomers in 1989. He has authored a series of publications and holds more than 25 patents. Sehanobish earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Chemical Engineering in India, and a doctorate in macromolecular science from Case Western University.

The list price of the soft-bound, 46-page book is $199; SAE International members can purchase it for $159.20. Bulk purchase discounts also are available. For more information, please visit www.sae.org/technical/books/T-122.

To request a media review copy, or to set up an interview with the author, please contact Email Contact.

SAE International is a global association of more than 121,000 engineers and related technical experts in the automotive, aerospace and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion(R) and the Collegiate Design Series.

www.sae.org

Contact: Shawn Andreassi of SAE International, 724-772-8522 or Email Contact

Web site: http://www.sae.org/