Use of banana fiber in injection - Moulded parts for the automotive sector

Abstract

The use of natural fibers as reinforcement in plastic matrixes constitutes an issue of great importance in the industry, and also in the automotive industry. This paper focuses on results obtained in the analysis of window pillars for car’s interiors produced by injection – molding of a composite of banana fiber. Banana fiber from Canary Islands were extracted and characterized in order to find if they are likely to be exploited to obtain a high quality fiber, with applications in the plastics industry, more specifically in the automotive industry, for production of parts for cars (window B – pillar in this paper). To accurate this fiber and the composite prepared accomplish with standards, several tests have been carried out to the fiber, the composite and the final part. Results show that banana fiber and its composites have a great potential to be used for the production of parts for the automotive industry.