A research team at Baylor University, Texas, has made car parts - trunk liners, floorboards and car-door interior covers - using fibers from the outer husks of coconuts, replacing the synthetic polyester fibers typically used in composite materials.
The husk fibers are blended with polypropylene fibers before being hot-pressed (compression-molded) into required shapes.The coconut fiber provides a rigid architecture for the lightweight, yet stiff, composite. Mechanical properties of coconut fibers are just as good,if not better,than synthetic and polyester fibers when used in automotive parts.Coconut does not burn very well or give off toxic fumes,which is key in passing tests required for their use in commercial automotive parts.
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5 comments:
didn't we have something similar in our old old ambassadors? i remember something that looked like coconut fiber peeking out of torn seats and door upholstery. wonder what that was.
This could be a bonanza for entrepreneurs from Kerala if only they could apply this technology.Imagine the manifold benefits and good application for byproducts.GVK, how about sending this to some of the car manufacturers?
As we all know, every part of the coconut palm can be put really good use. This is yet another, and so encouraging.
This is a great news and good for Coconut farmers.
Below article from "5 minutes for going green" is complement to the study done by Baylor University.
http://www.5minutesforgoinggreen.com/423/coconut-vs-polyester/
another new product from coconut tree..we'll see more in the near future new products from it...
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