1. Use of natural fibers in composites in the German and Austrian automotive industry.
- Author
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Kaup, M., Karus, M., and Ortmann, S.
- Subjects
INDUSTRIAL surveys ,FIBERS ,TEXTILE industry ,AUTOMOBILE industry - Abstract
This article reports on a survey addressed to 139 companies and institutes from the natural fiber composite sector in Germany and Austria from June to October 2002. The goal of the survey was to collect data on the equaled status and the future market development of the use of natural fibers in composites in Germany and Austria. The survey results show that despite the poor economic situation in the automotive sector in 2001 and 2002, the use of natural fibers for composites has increased. Since its discovery in 1996, the use of hemp fibers presents an increase to about 2,200 tons in 2002. Regarding the value of the used natural fibers, there is a market value of about Euro 10 million in Germany and Austria for 2002. In automobiles that make use of natural fibers for press-molded parts, the average use amount of natural fibers is between 5 and 10 kilograms per vehicle, depending on the model. The analysis of the survey results amongst tier-one suppliers regarding current processing technologies shows that in comparison to the survey of 2000, a clear trend towards thermoplastic matrix systems like propylene can be observed. The natural fiber injection-molding segment can advance to a growth factor of the future use of natural fibers in composites.
- Published
- 2003