Lightweight Materials Research Articles

Novel insights into the correlation composition-structure-property of recyclable carbon fiber reinforced thermosetting resin composites

As widely used lightweight and high-strength materials, the sustainable development of thermosetting composites is hampered by their limited recyclability. Developing simple methods for the efficient and upgraded recycling is desirable but challenging. Herein, carbon fiber reinforced degradable thermosetting resin composites were prepared, and the effects of resin degradation process and its derivatives on the sustainable recycling of carbon fiber were studied. Through the tunable departure and re-adsorption of degradation derivatives in cleaning post-treatment, recycled carbon fibers achieved not only non-destructive recovery but also simultaneously improvements in tensile strength from 3.0 GPa to 3.7 GPa and surface energy from 47.2 mN/m to 66.7 mN/m. The adhered derivatives, rich in -NH- and oxygen-containing groups, exhibited good interactions with the fiber surface and epoxy resin. Benefiting from this, the inter laminar shear strength of recycled carbon fibers reinforced epoxy composite effectively improved 24.3 %. In this work, directly reusing resin degradation products for the recycling of reinforced fibers was proposed and the key role of the composition and distribution of degradation products in recycling properties was revealed. The strategy of integrating characteristics of components to enhance material recyclability is expected to have widespread applicability, promoting the sustainable transition for thermosetting composites.

Extrusion 3D Printing of Intrinsically Fluorescent Thermoplastic Polyimide: Revealing an Undisclosed Potential.

Thermoplastic polyimides (TPIs) are promising lightweight materials for replacing metal components in aerospace, rocketry, and automotive industries. Key TPI attributes include low density, thermal stability, mechanical strength, inherent flame retardancy, and intrinsic fluorescence under UV light. The application of advanced manufacturing techniques, especially 3D printing, could significantly broaden the use of TPIs; however, challenges in melt-processing this class of polymer represent a barrier. This study explored the processability, 3D-printing and hence mechanical, and fluorescence properties of TPI coupons, demonstrating their suitability for advanced 3D-printing applications. Moreover, the study successfully 3D-printed a functional impeller for an overhead stirrer, effectively replacing its metallic counterpart. Defects were shown to be readily detectable under UV light. A thorough analysis of TPI processing examining its rheological, morphological, and thermal properties is presented. Extruded TPI filaments were 3D-printed into test coupons with different infill geometries to examine the effect of tool path on mechanical performance. The fluorescence properties of the 3D-printed TPI coupons were evaluated to highlight their potential to produce intricately shaped thermally stable, fluorescence-based sensors.

Development of Automotive and Marine Appliable Aluminium Composite by Utilizing Agro-Waste Material as Performance Enhancement Particles

Aluminium-based materials are lightweight materials used for producing automotive and aircraft components. However, aluminium materials diminish in performance on exposure to degrading environments, which limits their areas of usage and applications. The degrading effect results in poor resistance to wear and corrosion, reduced properties and defective microstructure. In this work, 6063 aluminium alloy was reinforced with particles of agricultural waste (walnut shell) to produce six samples with five samples of reinforced and a control (unreinforced) sample. Each of the samples of the reinforced alloy was moulded into a 25 mm diameter by 130 mm height using the stir casting method using an industrial pit furnace. The samples were thereafter machined to a diameter of 20 mm and cut into a thickness of 10 mm for characterizations. The potentiodynamic polarization method was used to test for the samples’ corrosion resistance properties following the ASTM G102 standard in 3.65% NaCl test medium. The hardness property was investigated using the Brinell hardness machine following the ASTM A-370 standard, while the microstructure and crystallographic phase studies were carried out using SEM/EDS and XRD profiles, respectively. The unreinforced 6063 Al alloy sample exhibited the highest corrosion rate (Cr) of 0.7321 mm/year and the lowest hardness of 104.94 kgf/mm2. The 10% wt. walnut shell particles (WSP) reinforced 6063 Al alloy sample exhibited the lowest corrosion rate (Cr) of 0.1336 mm/year and the highest hardness of 109.24 kgf/mm2. This indicated that the walnut shell particles enhanced the corrosion and indentation resistance of the alloy. In addition, the SEM images indicated that the agricultural waste (walnut shell particles) reinforced samples exhibited more refined microstructure, lower porosity and smoother morphology compared to the unreinforced (control) sample. Also, the XRD profile of samples revealed some high peak intensity crystallites such as Al(ZnS), Al2O3 and (FeMn)SiO2. These high peak intensity crystallites indicated that these reinforced samples possessed chemical and microstructural homogeneity, high stability and good surface texture.

Passive behavior of TNB intermetallic and Inconel 625 in electrochemical machining

The TNB alloy, a novel lightweight material, shows great potential for application in crucial aero-engine parts. This paper reveals the passive behavior of TNB alloy in electrochemical machining (ECM), Inconel 625 alloy was used for comparison. The polarization curve shows that TNB and Inconel 625 alloys have obvious passivation phenomenon at the passivation potential. Research reveals that the passive film structure of TNB alloy comprises a compact layer (about 7 nm) and a loose layer (about 13 nm), with significantly higher corrosion resistance in the compact layer compared to the loose layer. In contrast, the passive film structure of Inconel 625 alloy is a single layer with a thickness of approximately 11 nm. It was also found that the passive film composition for TNB alloy is TiO2, Al2O3, and Nb2O5. The composition of passive film for Inconel 625 alloy is NiO, Ni(OH)2, Cr2O3, MoO3, Nb2O5, FeO, and Fe2O3, and the content of Ni and Cr is high. TNB alloys exhibit uneven and loose lamellar morphology at low current densities, but can reach Ra 0.15 μm at greater than 15 A/cm2. There are always some disordered carbides rich in Nb and Mo on the surface of Inconel 625 alloy. Quantitative models were developed for both alloys to describe their electrochemical dissolution behavior.

Lightweight composite from graphene-coated hollow glass microspheres for microwave absorption

In developing the effective and lightweight materials for microwave absorption, graphene holds a bright promise because of its excellent electrical properties and low density, but it suffers from poor impedance matching; while the hollow glass microspheres on the other hand have extremely low density and are dielectric. Their synergistic combination could achieve a perfect impedance matching and thus create a novel lightweight absorption composite. The metamaterial structure absorber can efficiently absorb electromagnetic waves over a wide frequency range. This study employs a hydrothermal method to deposit graphene onto the surfaces of hollow glass microspheres, followed by the design of a metamaterial absorber. Upon coating with graphene flakes, the composite material effectively dissipates electromagnetic wave energy through mechanisms such as interfacial polarization, dielectric loss, and the multiple scattering effects of hollow glass microspheres and graphene flakes. The composite exhibits an effective absorption bandwidth up to 4.02 GHz under a graphene flakes mass fraction of 30 %. More importantly, the incorporation of the metamaterial absorber design further significantly enhances the absorption bandwidth to 7.7 GHz. This material demonstrates significant advantages in terms of lightweight and broadband absorption performance, providing new insights for the research of high-performance lightweight and wideband absorbing materials in the future. However, further investigation is required to examine its long-term stability and performance in complex environments.

Overview of Multifunctional (Ultra-)Lightweight Materials for a Sustainable Future

Abstract In line with the ongoing advancement of high-performance materials that are multifunctional and environmentally friendly, this paper provides an overview of recent developments in lightweight and ultra-lightweight multifunctional materials. We primarily examine the various types of low-density multifunctional materials, their production techniques, and their applications within the context of a sustainable future. From a structural point of view, ultra-light materials are classified into three main groups: aerogels, foam, and micro/ nanolattice. In terms of composition, they can be derived from ceramic, metallic, or polymeric materials. This overview pays particular attention to silica, carbon and composite aerogels, as well as metal, ceramic (carbon), and polymer foams.

A wave-transparent electrothermal sandwich composite for high-efficient anti-icing/de-icing

Light-weight composite materials with multifunction are widely used on aircrafts, antennas and wind turbines. Its anti-icing/de-icing is still a great challenge due to its poor heat transmission and low heat resistance. To address these issues, a novel electrothermal sandwich composite (NESC) was prepared by hot pressing an electrothermal film into load-bearing composite materials. By optimizing the ingredient of boron nitride nanoparticle, the heat diffusion rate was improved by 86 %, saving ∼14 % of energy consumption for complete anti-icing in dynamic icing conditions compared to samples without thermal conductivity enhancement. Furthermore, high electromagnetic transmittance up to 80 % of NESC was ensured through electromagnetic design. Besides the high-efficient and electromagnetic compatible anti-icing performance, NESC also performs high resistance to acid/alkali, abrasion and impact, good heating uniformity, stable photothermal effect, and potential of large-area manufacture. This paper presents a promising solution for durable, multi-functional, compatible, and energy-saving composites for anti-icing and de-icing.

Light-weight high strength porous thermal insulation materials based on dolomite-granite waste

The first choice for the treatment of solid waste is its industrial utilization. Therefore, in the present study, dolomite tailings and granite waste are used as the basic raw materials, along with silicon carbide as a high-temperature foaming agent, to prepare a light-weight, high-closed porosity thermal insulation material. The effects of (i) the chemical compositions of the main raw materials and (ii) the relationship between the sintering process and the properties, microstructure and crystalline phase of the samples are systematically investigated. At the same time, the formation mechanism of high closed porosity of the thermal insulation material is analyzed. The results showed that when sintering temperature, time, and heating rate are 1200 °C, 30 min, and 3 °C/min, respectly, the sample density, compressive strength, true porosity, and closed porosity are 0.7 g/cm3, 6.62 MPa, 74.21%, and 66.36%, respectively. In addition, due to the high closed porosity, relative to traditional inorganic thermal insulation materials, the water absorption and thermal conductivity are significantly reduced to as little as 1.5%, and 0.30 W/(m·K), respectly. This research not only realizes the recovery and utilization of granite waste and dolomite tailings, but also provides a new prospect for energy saving and consumption reduction in the construction industry.

Influences of Ti3AlC2 content on tribological behavior of cold-sprayed Ni-Ti3AlC2 composite coatings

As a type of lightweight and high-strength materials, aluminum alloys have been widely applied in such fields as aerospace and automobile manufacturing, which, however, easily wear out in harsh and complex environments due to their defects like poor wear resistance, low hardness, and easy deformation. For this reason, it is necessary to prepare a coating on the surface of aluminum alloys to enhance their wear resistance. In this work, Ni-Ti3AlC2 composite coatings were prepared on the aluminum alloy surface through cold spraying technology, and the influences of Ti3AlC2 content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behavior of the Ni-Ti3AlC2 composite coatings were explored. It turned out that the mechanical properties and tribological behavior of the composite coatings were significantly improved with the increase of Ti3AlC2 content. Therein, the Ni-50%Ti3AlC2 composite coating exhibited a porosity of 0.384 %, a hardness of 310 HV0.2, and a bonding strength of 51.6 MPa, while its wear rate significantly declined to 1.87 × 10−5 mm3/N∙m. Because of the increase of Ti3AlC2 ceramic content, the compaction effect and shot peening effect of the ceramic hard phase were gradually enhanced, which further aggravated the deformation degree of Ni metal, thus improving the density, hardness, bonding strength, and wear resistance of composite coatings.

Fabrication and experimental investigations on mechanical properties of stir cast aluminum MMC with the addition of ash

Abstract Aluminium alloys are lightweight and high strength materials which are extensively used in engineering applications. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) based on aluminium have significantly increased in the field of newer materials for high-performance mechanical uses. Aluminium metal matrix composites (Al-MMCs) are more involved in mining, aerospace, marine, and automobile applications. Aluminium liquid casting is typically used to treat metal matrix for composites. Such casting is carried out using the liquid casting method. In this article, using the stir casting technique, an effort has been made to create a metal matrix composite by choosing aluminium (Al6061) as matrix material and silicon carbide, cow dung and buffalo dung ash as reinforcement. This ash is biodegradable in nature. Four types of samples were prepared from this composite for all the tests which were named S1, S2, S3, and S4, with Al6061 as 100%, 84%, 82%, and 80%, respectively. Four mechanical properties, i.e., micro hardness, density, tensile strength and compressive strength, were investigated and the effect of hybrid ash was studied. Maximum density, microhardness, tensile strength and compressive strength were achieved for sample S2 due to the highest percentage of silicon carbide and the lowest percentage of hybrid ash. Addition of ash proved good alternative as a sustainable reinforcement.

Effect of nanoparticles reinforcement of silicon dioxide derived from prosopis juliflora on Silver-Grey magnesium nanocomposite: utilization of silicon dioxide mechanical and tribological properties

Abstract The automotive and aviation industries require lightweight materials to enhance working efficiency. Composites combine materials such as aluminium, magnesium, titanium, steel, and copper with various forms of reinforcements to offer lightweight alternatives for a range of applications. The present investigation aims to fabricate a Silver-Grey Magnesium (Mg-25%Si) alloy-based nanocomposite with silicon dioxide (SiO2) nano reinforcement at weight % of 0, 3.25, 6.5 and 9.75 utilizing the two step stir casting method. Prosopis juliflora is utilized in the production of different weight percentages of SiO2 nano reinforcements. The microhardness, tensile, wear, and impact tests are performed on the Silver-Grey Magnesium nanocomposites (Mg-25%Si/SiO2) utilizing a computerized tensometer testing machine, a Vicker’s hardness tester, a pin-on-disc tribometer, and an Izod impact, respectively. The x-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), and Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) with elemental mapping microstructure were employed to scrutinize the tensile specimen fracture, EDAX, elemental mapping microstructure, wear, CoF, and worn surface characterization and impact strength analysis. When compared to the Silver-Grey Magnesium (Mg-25%Si) base alloy, the results of the Mg-25%Si/SiO2 nanocomposites demonstrated an increase in SiO2 nano reinforcements that significantly increased microhardness, tensile strength, wear resistance, and impact strength. The corresponding values are 113.36 VHN, yield and ultimate tensile strength of 603.25 MPa and 665.84 MPa, 0.00478 mm3 m−1, CoF of 0.38421 and 400 J m−1.

An investigation into the surface integrity and cutting force characteristics in titanium alloy end milling using soluble oil and MQL as coolants

Ti–6Al–4V, a titanium alloy, is a lightweight material characterized by a relatively high strength-to-weight ratio. Due to its exceptional resistance to corrosion, this material is extensively used in the aerospace and automotive sectors. Additionally, its biocompatibility has enabled its use in the medical field. An inherent difficulty in end milling titanium alloy is its modest thermal conductivity and covalent reactivity with other compounds. The low thermal conductivity of the alloy results in elevated tool temperatures, which expedites tool wear and diminishes tool longevity. To address these issues, end milling is performed using lubricants such as minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) and soluble oil. A variety of cutting speed, feed, and depths of cut were employed during the end milling process to analyze their influence on surface integrity and tool life. Optimization of the cutting parameters was achieved using ANOVA and Taguchi methods. The cutting speed influenced the cutting force in both soluble oil and MQL as coolants. Minor tool burning was observed when using soluble oil, whereas this issue was not encountered with MQL. Additionally, MQL demonstrated a faster heat removal rate compared to soluble oil during the milling process.

Effect of ZrB2 and ZrC and mixing method on Mechanical properties and wear behaviour of Al7075 based composites for aircraft aerofoil surfaces

Developing lightweight materials with notable properties for aerospace applications is a great challenge. The impact of ZrB2 and ZrC reinforcement on the mechanical and wear behaviour of stir-cast Al7075-ZrB2-ZrC composites is investigated with a weight percentage of 2, 4, 6 and 8% ZrB2, and fixed 2% ZrC. The results showed notable improvements with a hardness of 96 HRB, tensile strength of 423MPa and compressive strength of 385MPa; hardness increased by 14%, tensile strength increased by 11% and compressive strength was enhanced by 13% when compared with pure Al7075. The wear behaviour has been analysed by pin-on-disc wear test at room temperature with loads of 10N and 20N against the sliding distance of 400m to 1200m; the wear resistance is improved by 17% and CoF is reduced by 11% compared to pure Al7075. SEM micrographs display the wear mechanism and microstructural changes happened during the wear test. Al7075-ZrB2-ZrC composites are the optimum replacement for aerofoil surfaces because of their remarkable properties.

The Influence of Printing Speed and Temperature on the Mechanical, Absorptive, and Morphological Properties of PLA-Based Hybrid Materials Produced with an FDM-Type 3D Printer.

Composite materials are used in many engineering applications and industrial fields due to their superior properties, such as high strength, lightweight, and stiffness. These outstanding properties have made these materials an alternative to metallic materials. The vital need for new lightweight and inexpensive materials with superior strength properties has led to research on "hybridisation". Hybrid composites with more than one type of polymer in the same structure are needed to achieve a better balance of properties and to combine many desired properties in a single material. Many researchers have studied the hybrid effect and contributed to the understanding and modelling of the subject. Studies to explain the primary mechanism of the hybrid effect are limited and insufficient to explain the complex interaction. In this study, a three-dimensional printer using fused deposition modelling technique was used to produce hybrid materials, and the influence of printing parameters on the mechanical, absorptive, and morphological properties of poly (lactic acid) (PLA), Tough PLA, and PLA/Tough PLA hybrid materials were investigated. The hybrid material form exhibited superior properties when selecting specific production parameters from individual raw elements. It can be said that the mechanical properties of the PLA/Tough PLA hybrid material increased with the increase in production temperature.

The effect of post heat treatment on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Ti2AlNb intermetallic alloy prepared by point-forging and laser-deposition

Ti2AlNb-based intermetallic alloy is considered to be the latest class of light-weight structural material severing in the range of 600∼750 °C. Hybrid interlayer point-forging with laser-deposition (PF-LD) provides a new idea to produce near-net-shape Ti2AlNb part with promising mechanical performance. The present work mainly investigated the effect of post heat-treatment on microstructural evolution and tensile mechanical properties of PF-LDed Ti2AlNb alloy. The experimental results demonstrated that solution-treated at 940 °C–1020 °C followed by aging at 840 °C was effective to regulate phase morphology and tensile mechanical properties. With the consecutive increase of solution temperature, more fine-lamellar O-phase was reprecipitated within parent B2/β matrix during secondary aging treatment. The ultimate tensile strength was enhanced significantly from 1055.5 MPa to 1148.1 MPa with the help of precipitation hardening effect. In the meantime, stronger stress accumulation introduced by fine-lamella also exerted a detrimental impact on tensile strain capability, and the elongation after failure decreased from 10.9 % to 7.4 % with increasing solution temperature. Considering above results, this study provides a basic research for exploring the heat treatment of PF-LDed Ti2AlNb-alloy, and it is feasible to obtain high-strength and high-ductility properties by tailoring phase morphology.

Experimental investigation of non-synchronous vibration and its mechanism analysis by using a cantilever beam-like compressor cascade

With the increasement of unsteady load and the extensive utilization of light-weight material, compressor blade is encountering increasingly serious flow induced vibration problems. Among which, non-synchronous vibration (NSV) has received special attention due to its complex generation mechanism and significant impact on high cycle fatigue. To better understand the physical mechanism causing NSV in compressor, this study designed a cantilever beam-like compressor cascade and made a detailed investigation about its flow separation induced vibration by means of experimental and numerical methods. The experiments were conducted at 9 engine representative conditions and the data of both on-blade pressure and structural response were measured simultaneously. Results show that, the effect of Ma number on the dynamic response will increase with the increasement of incidence angle and there is a strong nonlinearity. The effect of incidence angle on the dynamic response shows obvious bifurcation phenomenon. The results of large eddy simulation (LES) further reveal that the obvious characteristics of the dynamic response are caused by the laminar separation bubble (LSB) of suction surface, and the periodic separation and reattachment of boundary layer provides initial excitation sources for NSV. The unsteady excitation acts on blades in the form of energy and then forces the blades to vibrate with low order modes. The vibration amplitudes are closely related to the separation points and increase as the separation points move forward.

Waste-to-energy: Repurposing flexible polyurethane waste for triboelectric nanogenerator applications

Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENG) is a promising approach for clean energy harvesting. Light weight, flexible, cheap and environmentally-friendly materials are being explored as potential components in the TENG device in order to increase its efficiency. This paper reports the first effort to successfully utilize rebonded flexible polyurethane (RFPU) waste as a tribopositive material in a TENG device. A batch moulding technique was used to create two different densities (60 and 70 kg/m3) of flexible polyurethane (FPU) scraps, including customer waste and slabstock foam production waste. The current study investigates the effect of density on the compression strengths of the RFPU materials, as well as the impact on the output voltage of the TENG. Additionally, the effect of various RFPU sheet thicknesses (2, 4, 6, and 8 mm) as well as the effect of different applied forces and frequencies on the TENG's output voltage were investigated. The findings showed that the compressive strength increases with higher RFPU density. The output voltage values of the TENG device were recorded both with and without pre-charging. The results, without pre-charging, revealed that the highest output voltage of the TENG was obtained using an RFPU sheet with a density of 60 kg/m3. Furthermore, output voltage was shown to decrease with increasing RFPU sheet thickness and to increase with applied frequency. Pre-charging showed a similar trend, but yielded better results compared to the RFPU samples that were not pre-charged. The power density peaked at 0.085 mW/cm2, at a load resistance of 5 MΩ and a force of 4.7 N. The RFPU-based TENG successfully powered four white LEDs connected in series. Analysis of the embodied energy associated with using PU foam waste instead of virgin PU foam was conducted and demonstrated that utilizing PU foam waste provides environmental benefits due to the significant contribution of raw materials to the overall embodied energy in PU foam that is saved when reusing foam waste. Additionally, assessing the embodied energy of the components of the TENG device was also conducted and shows that the generated energy can partially offset the embodied energy of the TENG device. As a result, the prepared RFPU material not only helps to safeguard the environment but also shows great promise for use in developing more efficient and affordable TENGs in the future.

Research progress on key technologies of flexible wearable electronic devices

Flexible wearable device is an innovative technology product, using soft, lightweight material design, can fit the curve of the human body, providing a comfortable wearing experience. These devices typically integrate a variety of sensors, batteries, and connectivity technologies to enable biometric monitoring, motion tracking, communication, and other intelligent functions. Traditional electronic products tend to give a "stiff" impression that they cannot withstand bending, twisting and stretching. In recent years, under the background of the integration of electronic technology and modern material science technology, the emerging flexible electronic wearable device has become a research hotspot with its more flexible material, more sensitive and accurate signal transmission, and more extensive monitoring range. The development of flexible electronic technology has greatly improved the user's wearing experience and is more suitable for the free movement of the human body. This paper summarizes the basic principle and classification of key technologies of wearable electronic devices, and introduces the research progress and research trend.

Graphene-Based Thermopneumatic Generator for On-Board Pressure Supply of Soft Robots.

Various fields, including medical and human interaction robots, gain advantages from the development of bioinspired soft actuators. Many recently developed grippers are pneumatics that require external pressure supply systems, thereby limiting the autonomy of these robots. This necessitates the development of scalable and efficient on-board pressure generation systems. While conventional air compression systems are hard to miniaturize, thermopneumatic systems that joule heat a transducer material to generate pressure present a promising alternative. However, the transducer materials of previously reported thermopneumatic systems demonstrate high heat capacities and limited surface area resulting in long response times and low operation frequencies. This study presents a thermopneumatic pressure generator using aerographene, a highly porous (>99.99%) network of interconnected graphene microtubes, as lightweight and low heat capacity transducer material. An aerographene pressurizer module (AGPM) can pressurize a reservoir of 4.2 cm3 to ∼14 kPa in 50 ms. Periodic operation of the AGPM for 10 s at 0.66 Hz can further increase the pressure in the reservoir to ∼36 kPa. It is demonstrated that multiple AGPMs can be operated parallelly or in series for improved performance. For example, three parallelly operated AGPMs can generate pressure pulses of ∼21.5 kPa. Connecting AGPMs in series increase the maximum pressure achievable by the system. It is shown that three AGPMs working in series can pressurize the reservoir to ∼200 kPa in about 2.5 min. The AGPM's minimalistic design can be easily adapted to circuit boards, making the concept a promising fit for the on-board pressure supply of soft robots.

Assessment of life cycle environmental impacts of materials, driving pattern, and climatic conditions on battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in a cold region

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) can play an important role in addressing climate change by diminishing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the worldwide road transportation sector. There is limited research on the implications of the use of lightweight materials, driving pattern, and climatic impact on the life cycle GHG emissions in a cold region. To address this limitation, we developed a framework to assess eighteen BEV and four HFCV scenarios for a cold region that consider aforementioned parameters through a combination of driving patterns (in rural, city, and highway driving) and climatic conditions (i.e., summer, mild winter, and severe winter) for both conventional and carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CRFP)-based BEVs. A case study was conducted for Canada, considering its cold regions, using available data for HFCVs. We assessed city driving in summer and highway driving in severe winter conditions for conventional and CFRP-based HFCVs. The results show that the lowest GHG emissions are in cities in summer, with life cycle GHG emissions values of 68.7 g CO2 eq/km for CFRP-based BEVs. The highest life cycle GHG emissions are 364.4 g CO2 eq/km with conventional HFCVs on the highway in severe winter conditions' scenario. The operation phase emerges as the primary contributor to life cycle GHG emissions, closely trailed by the production phase. The analysis shows that the most sensitive parameters for CFRP-based BEVs in the city in summer scenario are vehicle lifetime and for conventional HFCVs in the highway in severe winter scenario, fuel cell efficiency. The analysis also shows the range of life cycle GHG emissions for a cold region, with conventional HFCVs on highways in severe winter conditions exhibiting the highest emissions (331.0 g CO2 eq/km) and CFRP-based HFCVs in the city in summer scenario the lowest (51.0 g CO2 eq/km).