MyIndustryWorld

Acrodur® for natural fibers in Automotive

Acrodur^® transforms natural fibers into light and stable composites

Renewable raw materials are tools mankind has used since primeval times. By using them, we are preserving nature, enabling a high standard of living also for succeeding generations.

One important group of “renewables” is that of natural fibers, a broad variety of which is available, such as hemp, kenaf, flax and wood. The challenge they present, however, is their lack of mechanical stability and durability.

Low-emission Acrodur^® binders from BASF are a perfect match to these fibers, transforming them into light-weight, stable, durable functional composites, usable in high-tech applications such as in the automotive industry.

Acrodur^® can be applied by various impregnation methods. The needed amount varies by application and desired properties. Experience has proven a high natural fiber content of 75% on average. After impregnation, the prepreg can easily be molded into the desired composite.

Acrodur^® stands for

Water-based binder; no added formaldehyde; low in VOC
Suitable for a wide range of natural fibers, such as hemp, kenaf, Wood
Enabling light-weight Solutions
Possessing superior thermo-mechanical stability
Applicable for thermoset and thermoplastic processes

From natural fiber to molded composite

Three-step process showing transformation from raw materials to product. Left: white powder with a flask. Center: brown fiber sheets. Right: molded car part.

Impregnation of natural fibers with Acrodur^® binder

Natural fiber prepregs

Molded composite parts (roof frame)

Natural Fiber – Acrodur^®

Sustainable Composites for the Automotive Industry

A transparent car with a wireframe overlay reveals its interior components, including seats and steering wheel.

DOOR TRIM
Acrodur^®

A textured, tan, contoured car door panel set against a white background, highlighting its smooth curves and precise cutouts for handles and hardware.

PACKAGE TRAY
Acrodur^®

A black, textured trunk mat lies on a plain white background. The mat has a contoured shape, tailored to fit the cargo area of a vehicle.

ENGINE ENCAPSULATION
Acrodur^®

The image shows a textured, molded car floor mat with cutouts, on a black background.

ROOF FRAME
Acrodur^®

"Close-up of a light brown, rectangular car interior trim panel made from natural fibers, showcasing its eco-friendly material and textured surface. Source: IAC Group."

Reducing CO₂emissions without compromising on performance

Resource efficiency and eco-friendliness are becoming decisive factors in the automotive industry nowadays as well. Acrodur^® enables you to fulfill more stringent CO₂ emission limits without compromising on performance criteria.

Two examples for car interiors and exteriors where natural fiber Acrodur^® solutions can support the automotive industry in becoming more sustainable:

Roof Frame

One effective way is to lower gas consumption by reducing vehicle weight. IAC invented the first roof frame made of natural fibers and Acrodur^®for the Mercedes-Benz E-class. In comparison to traditional metal frames, weight was successfully reduced by more than 50 %. This success story will now be rolled out to other car series.

Engine Encapsulation

Another effective way is to use highly efficient combustion engines, which require state-of-the-art heat insulation. Due to its superior thermo-mechanical stability, Acrodur^® is the perfect enabler for turning natural fibers into encapsulation parts. An additional benefit is the acoustic noise reduction.

Further possible composites can be used for door trims or package trays, for example. With the best suitable combination of natural fibers and Acrodur^®, tailor-made solutions can be created to achieve your desired properties for a certain composite with an average renewable content of 75 %.

With the Biomass Balance Approach, fossil materials can even be replaced by renewable sources up to 100 %.

Four interconnected green circles with icons represent "Biomass Balance," "Green Energy," "Upcycling," and "Low Emissions," symbolizing sustainability.

Sustainability meets Fiber Bonding

We at BASF are well aware of the key issues for nonwoven applications. For us, sustainability is more than just a trend - it is a development process. We strive to achieve a balance between the three dimensions of sustainable development: economy, environment and society.

Service and Technical Capabilities

Our pilot plant offers the possibility to conduct a broad spectrum of trials and material tests with small input amounts of raw materials. A team of experts with state-of-the art equipment is here to support you in finding solutions for your questions and issues, ready to give you advice based on their long-term experience.

A person wearing teal gloves and a blue coat places a sheet of beige material into a machine.

Gloved hands of a person in blue hold a rectangular piece of particle board, positioning it under a metal press machine.

Close-up of a mechanical test where a metal piece is bent between two clamps and a central press. The background is a blurred industrial setting.

Preparation of prepregs

No matter whether you are using foam, bath or spray impregnation, we can choose from a wide range of application techniques.

Molding

With our presses, we can conduct both thermoplastic and duroplastic molding of composites. While planar sheets are beneficial for mechanical testing, the installation of different model molds makes it possible to generate shapes simulating warpage and stress in real processing.

Testing

In our testing labs, we are able not only to characterize samples with respect to mechanical parameters such as bending stiffness, Young’s modulus or impact resistance, but also to analyze specific parameters like odor, FOG, VOC, total organic carbon, etc.

Discover

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Picture of BASF Location Trostberg (at the bottom) and Heerenveen (at the top).

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Access your PCF data online

As a customer of BASF's dispersions and construction additives business, you can now seamlessly access our Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) statements in MyIndustryWorld online. With this service, we aim to simplify measuring your carbon footprint – because we know the effort it takes.

How to read your PCF statement

In this video, our sustainability expert Alexander Schenzel guides you through a typical Product Carbon Footprint data sheet and explains all the essentials.

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Last UpdateApril 2, 2024

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