Natural fibres are becoming increasingly popular in the manufacture of car interiors

Natural fibres are becoming increasingly popular in the manufacture of car interiors and particularly for applications that require good sound insulation. An interesting application has been developed for the car industry in the form of a PP-flax liner for a new Audi model rear booth made by a German supplier using Cannon equipment.

Waste from natural fibres like flax is coupled with polypropylene to form a multi-layered sheet. The sheet, consisting of an alternation of fibres, polypropylene and fibres, is heated in a compression heating station and coupled with two covering materials ? typically polyester-based decorative and sound-absorbent fabrics. The three layers, that is the PP-flax sheet and the two covering fabrics, are automatically transferred, after heating, to a double-acting press, with
no contact between the sheet and the fabrics during the transfer.

The material is then compression moulded at a rate of about 6 pieces a minute to form the liner for the booth. Cannon Tecnos has contributed to the project by supplying the entire production line which consists of an automatic sheet feeding and centering system, a heating oven, unwinding stations for covering material rolls with an automatic roll changing system, a double-acting press and a release system for the moulded piece.

Known for its GMT, SMC and LFT moulding solutions and now for materials like PP-flax, which use natural fibres, Cannon confirms itself as a competent, reliable partner offering solutions to any manufacturing need.

Quelle/Source: NetComposites News, 20. April 2001.

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