By Automotive Online on January 12, 2009 7:17 AM

 
Automotive industry is getting eco-friendly and more conscious about the environment day by day. Natural fibers have made a significant place for themselves in the recent past. Recent innovations depict that industry is shifting its focus on different types of natural raw materials for the production of auto parts.

Natural fibers with features like high strength, low-cost and light weight are largely used for making different auto accessories. In recent inventions, different types of natural fibers like hemp, flax, jute, kenaf, etc. are being used in the production process for making door accessories, package trays and other automotive covers & mats.




Auto parts like floorboards, trunk liners or other automotive parts being made from natural fibers. These fibers used for making varied auto parts are made from coconuts' outer husks. Coconut husk is also being used for manufacturing auto accessories like car-door interior covers. The focus on natural fibers has replaced synthetic polyester fibers thus reducing the affect on environment hazard. This recent innovation is receiving warm response across the automotive sector. Coconut husk is an easy resource that can be used as raw material for auto parts. Countries like India, Philippines, Indonesia, etc. are abundant source for coconut.

Over the years, car makers across Europe have used such composites of natural fibers in their manufacturing process. The biggest advantage that this fiber offers is that is they are environment friendly. Amongst the other benefits of these fibers include – ability to provide stiffness. These fibers also dampen sound at lower density and low cost as compared to glass fibers. The varied automotive components or parts that are manufactured using these natural fiber composites are dashboards, automotive seat backs, door panels, headliners, truck liners, package trays.

Advantages of Natural Fibers

• Renewable resource
• Reduction in potential harmful effects related to materials processing
• Easy disposal of materials
• Natural plant fibers cost less than glass fibers
• Low density
• High strength
• Stiffness
• Enhanced energy recovery
• Carbon dioxide sequestration
• Biodegradable
• Reduces dependency on Synthetic fibers & Petroleum

With such numerous advantages, efforts are afoot to embrace natural fibers for the production of automobile parts. If the focus remains on eco-friendly materials, natural fibers will surely become an indispensable element of automotive parts industry.