Natural fibres in car roofs

“Weight savings” is a key term in modern automotive engineering, as lighter vehicle components reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions for the end customer. To produce lightweight, innovative auto parts made from environmentally friendly substances, manufacturers need the right materials from the supplier industry.

Such as BASF’s binding agent Acrodur®: The acrylic resin can be processed in a simple and especially environmentally friendly manner; the only by-product generated is water. Acrodur® is used, for example, in collaboration with partners to create a new vehicle roof frame using renewable hemp. The natural fibre construction is strengthened with Acrodur®, making the roof frame up to 40% lighter compared with regular steel components.

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The BASF warehouse contains nonwovens of different fiber types like hemp, kenaf, banana, and wood, but also special types like bark cloth. IAC FiberFrameTM with Acrodur®: The binding agent Acrodur® 950 L provides the strength and heat-resistance needed in the world’s first vehicle roof frame made entirely of natural fibers. Source: IAC Group The natural fibers are impregnated with the water-based binder Acrodur®, which strengthens the natural fibers and enables an environmentally compatible, dimensionally stable and, above all, lightweight solution for car composites. The acrylic resin Acrodur® can be processed in a simple and especially environmentally friendly manner.

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