Characterization of Natural Fibre Composites from Textile Waste for Automotive Applications

Textile waste contributes to landfills and is a significant source of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in the environment. Textile waste can be recycled and reused to create new products for various applications. Despite the use of composites in automotive applications, research needs to be improved to effectively reuse and recycle the huge number of landfills produced each year due to yarn disposal. The automotive industry has been using composite materials to fabricate interior and exterior body parts for its lightweight nature, sustainability, and effectiveness but the efficient use of textile waste is not fully harnessed. This research aims to develop natural fiber composites by reinforcing textile waste to manufacture car hoods, bumpers, and lightweight interior composite panels. This research also aims to evaluate the composite’s mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties, showing a clear picture of the feasibility of using the novel composite material. The test shows a significant improvisation in the physical and mechanical properties like tensile and impact properties of the composite material, however there is no notable change in thermal properties as compared to the pure resin. The developed composite is shown to be a promising material for lowering noise emissions and a superior substitute for goods in the automotive industry.