JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #83 - August/September 2013 - 23

Fig.1 : Using of natural fibres* for composites in the German automotive
industry 1999-2005

Flax, hemp and
nanocellulose
Flax has anti-fungal properties, and hemp fabric was
tested against two bacteria
strains, Staphylococcus Aureus (staph) and Klebsiella
Pneumoniae (pneumonia).
The fabric tested was a
hemp blend, 60% hemp and
40% rayon. The staph test
sample was already 98.5%
bacteria-free during the first
measurement. This shows
that hemp has great potential in many applications.
When comparing 100%
PLA resin with PLA+kenaf,
PLA/kenaf biocomposites
show higher heat deflection temperature, flexural
strength, flexural modulus
and impact strength, which
is almost equivalent to the

properties of PC/glass fibre
composites. PLA/kenaf biocomposites are used by NEC
and Unitika Ltd. to produce
mobile phone housings.
In recent years, it was
discovered that intensive
processing of wood releases
ultra-small, or “nano” cellulose fibres, so tiny that
50,000 of them could fit
across the width of a single
strand of human hair. These
fibres show great potential
for use in many applications,
and due to their outstanding properties, the biocomposites industry has started
focusing on them. Nanocellulose fibres can be added
to raw materials to replace
glass, aramid or carbon in
many applications to produce biocomposites that are
stronger and more durable.

Fig.2 : Exotic fibres

The fibres are from banana
and pineapple, which have
super-strong fibres (as stiff
as kevlar), sustainable, lighter and more eco-friendly.
These fibres will certainly
find use in future automotive applications, and within
the next three years, very
likely in armour and bulletproof vests (Fig.2).

Renewability
and sustainability
As the world itself is focusing on renewability and
sustainability, the automotive industry is considering
a range of alternatives to
fossil-based plastics and
metals, such as natural fibre
composites. The automotive
industry has started using
more bioplastics in car parts
to reduce the weight and
greenhouse gas emissions of

vehicles, thus making them
“greener”. Even thermoset
epoxy resins can be biosourced.
The Solvay group is producing bio-based epichlorohydrin in Thailand and
isosorbide, a bio-sourced
corn by-product, to create a
derivative capable of replacing bisphenol A (BPA) in
epoxy resins. These developments will boost the
thermoset plastic market
significantly.
Recycling has also improved
over the years with the use
of vegetable-oil-derived matrices, which make it possible to separate natural fibres
from biocomposite parts.
For example, Evonik has
developed Vestamid® Terra,
a castor-oil-based grade of

More information ...
History of natural fibre composites in Japan
- 1955: Sound insulator and seat material made of cotton waste textiles.
- 2000: Door interior made from kenaf/PP composite by Lexus.
- 2003: Roof lining made from carbon/sisal composite by Toyota.
- 2003: Spare tire cover made from kenaf/PLA (polylactic acid) by
Toyota.
- 2006: Tailgate trim made from bamboo/PBS (polybutylenesuccinate)
composite by Mitsubishi.
- 2007: Car speaker cone using bamboo fibre, produced by Panasonic.
- 2009: Seat cushion using castor-oil-based polyol produced by Toyota

Boshoku.
- 2011: Seat fabric using cotton/PET combination produced by Mitsubishi
Motors.
- 2012: Kenaf fibre composite injection moulded by Toyota Boshoku.
- 2012: Steering wheel & interior parts made from bamboo composite
by Lexus.
- Future: Personal mobility device using natural materials by Toyota.
The Japanese government has set the goal that 20% of all plastics
consumed in Japan should be renewably sourced by 2020.

No83 August - September 2013

/ jec composites magazine 23
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #83 - August/September 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #83 - August/September 2013
