Plant fibers for automotive applications

Abstract

This contribution aims at introducing new plant fibers used as fillers in a polymeric matrix enabling production of lightweight composites for automotive applications. It focuses on the effects of corn, sunflower, chestnut and hop fibers as reinforcement agents in composites. Mechanical testing was performed to qualify the reinforcement properties of these fibers and consequently compared with fiberglass composites. Selected natural fibers were used as reinforcement in polyurethane (PUR) foam in order to increase the properties of foam. This composite foam specimens were fabricated by using polyurethane molding method. The polyurethane foam specimens reinforced by 4wt% of individual fibers were produced to investigate the mechanical test - three point bending test. From this testing of polyurethane foam samples were showed, that the addition of natural fibers (corn, chestnut and hop) increase the properties of the polyuretane foam (already in the case of 4wt% of natural fibers). But from results implies, that fibers from sunflower are not so suitable for use as reinforcement of polyurethane foam.