Use of fiber-reinforced plastics in wheels for passenger cars

Abstract

The oldest wheels, assembled from several sections of wood, were produced around 4000 B.C. in Mesopotamia, meaning that one of the most important inventions of mankind took place over 6000 years ago. The wheel on the “Standard of Ur” [Figure 1] has been dated to approximately 2600 B.C. . These first wheels were actually already made of fiber composite materials because the wood can be regarded as a lignin matrix with embedded, stiff cellulose fibers.