how bmws door panels has led to a weight reduction of between 30 and 45%!
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IQPC GmbH | Friedrichstr. 94 | D-10117 Berlin, Germany
t: +49 (0) 30 2091 3274 | f: +49 (0) 30 2091 3263 | e: [email protected] | w: www.iqpc.de
Visit Automotive IQ for a portfolio of topic-related events, congresses and conferences: www.automotive-iq.com
Visible natural fibres: A tactile move towards
greener automotive doors and components
According to industry insiders, body styling and performance figures draw customers to car showrooms, but comfort and aesthetic appeal within the cabin conclude the sale. That’s why, after focusing on passenger car exteriors and convenience features during the 1990s, designers have refocused on interiors moving into the 21st century; improving haptics (tactile sensation), damping road and engine noise and creating greater visual harmony inside the cabin.
Furthermore, strong consumer and OEM demand for “green” technologies, such as bio-based monomers and natural fibre reinforcements that reduce the vehicle’s weight, cost and carbon footprint, have converged with tough new European regulations on odour, fogging and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions adding to the pressure on designers.
Natural fibres fit the requirements perfectly: They have been renewed by nature and human
ingenuity for millennia. They are also carbon neutral; absorbing the same amount of carbon
dioxide they produce. During processing, they generate mainly organic wastes and leave
residues that can be used to generate electricity or make ecological housing material. Although
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IQPC GmbH | Friedrichstr. 94 | D-10117 Berlin, Germany
t: +49 (0) 30 2091 3274 | f: +49 (0) 30 2091 3263 | e: [email protected] | w: www.iqpc.de
Visit Automotive IQ for a portfolio of topic-related events, congresses and conferences: www.automotive-iq.com
natural fibres are found in many automotive applications, interior components such as door
panels, centre consoles and instrument panel coverings are of particular interest for the
following reasons:
They are lighter and more cost effective than current chemically derived products
Aesthetically appealing as visual trim elements
They do not splinter on impact making them extremely safe in the event of an accident.
They require less processing
At the end of their life cycle they are 100% biodegradable.
Image Credit: www.slideshare.net (Ratna Chatterjee)
Recently a report by Research and Markets (Dublin, Ireland), predicted that the total global
natural fibre composites market (All sectors) is projected to record a compound annual growth
rate (CAGR) of 12.31% between 2014 and 2019 to reach $5,838.99 million by 2019.