Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40871146›Full record

ReviewPolymers2025

Sustainable Polymer Composites for Thermal Insulation in Automotive Applications: A Systematic Literature Review.

Dan Dobrotă, Gabriela-Andreea Sava, Andreea-Mihaela Bărbușiu, Gabriel Tiberiu Dobrescu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Polymers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Dan DobrotăFaculty of Engineering, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 550024 Sibiu, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-2202-7701
Gabriela-Andreea SavaFaculty of Engineering, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 550024 Sibiu, Romania.
Andreea-Mihaela BărbușiuFaculty of Engineering, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 550024 Sibiu, Romania.
Gabriel Tiberiu DobrescuDepartment of Robotics and Manufacturing Systems, Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Robotics, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-7545-0482

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This systematic literature review explores recent advancements in polymer-based composite materials designed for thermal insulation in automotive applications, with a particular focus on sustainability, performance optimization, and scalability. The methodology follows PRISMA 2020 guidelines and includes a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis of 229 peer-reviewed articles published over the past 15 years across major databases (Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, MDPI). The findings are structured around four central research questions addressing (1) the functional role of insulation in automotive systems; (2) criteria for selecting suitable polymer systems; (3) optimization strategies involving nanostructuring, self-healing, and additive manufacturing; and (4) future research directions involving smart polymers, bioinspired architectures, and AI-driven design. Results show that epoxy resins, polyurethane, silicones, and polymeric foams offer distinct advantages depending on the specific application, yet each presents trade-offs between thermal resistance, recyclability, processing complexity, and ecological impact. Comparative evaluation tables and bibliometric mapping (VOSviewer) reveal an emerging research trend toward hybrid systems that combine bio-based matrices with functional nanofillers. The study concludes that no single material system is universally optimal, but rather that tailored solutions integrating performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness are essential for next-generation automotive thermal insulation.

Indexed as

composite materialseco-designindustrial applicationspolymersthermal insulation

Identifiers

PMID40871146
PMCPMC12389532

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.