- Natural fibre composites - from upholstery to structural components

摘要

Natural fibres, as a substitute for glass fibres in composite components, have gained renewed interest the last decade, especially in automotive industries. Fibres like flax, hemp or jute are cheap, have better stiffness per unit weight and have a lower impact on the environment. Although the automotive industry takes the lead in the revival of natural fibres, applications are mainly restricted to upholstery applications where acoustic and thermal insulation, low cost and an environmental image are advantages. Structural applications are rare since existing production techniques are not applicable and availability of semi-finished materials with constant quality is still a problem.