Use of Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites in the Automotive Industry

摘要

The automotive industry has expressed an increasing interest in the use of biodegradable and renewable resource based thermoset and thermoplastic composites in certain trim and under hood applications. Use of these materials can provide processing cost and part weight advantages. Mechanical properties and damping characteristics were analyzed for softwood and hardwood cellulose fiber fill in several thermoplastic matrices including polypropylene (PP), Nylon 6 (PA6), and a blend of polyethylene (PE). Mechanical properties were determined using standard ASTM methods. Material damping was evaluated by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Using an empirical time-temperature shifting technique the storage and loss moduli, as well as the phase lag or damping factor, can be predicted for a large range of frequencies. Preliminary findings show similar or improved NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) characteristics for natural fiber reinforced materials versus the traditional glass fiber reinforced plastics. Mechanical properties for the natural fiber reinforced materials are also competitive with composites currently used in production applications.