Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
resulted in an average share of 46%.
Averaged over all techniques, the average
NF share amounts to 51.5%.
In Fig. 11.4, the fibre share ranges are
shown. Thermoplastic composites range from
30 to 65%.
11.9 Natural Fibres
per Passenger Car
According to the Association of Automotive
Industry (
Verband der Automobilindustrie
,
www.vda.de),
5.2 million (2004) and 5.4 mil-
lion (2005) passenger cars, respectively, were
produced in Germany. Based on these fig-
ures, together with the data from Fig. 11.1,
the average NF content per passenger car
can be calculated easily. For 2004 and 2005,
this results in 3.6 kg/passenger car, a value
only slightly higher than in 2003 (3.5 kg/
passenger car).
11.8
Natural Fibre Composites
in Motor Cars
Based on these now confirmed NF shares and
an assumed average edge trim of 20% (with
compression moulding), the following amounts
of NF composites arise. As discussed in the
introduction, the data of 1999-2003 had to be
corrected accordingly, making inconsistencies
with previous nova-Institut publications inevita-
ble here.
In addition to the increasing total
amounts, Fig. 11.5 also shows the changing
shares of thermoset and thermoplastic tech-
niques. Since 1999, the share of thermoplas-
tic composites has increased considerably; in
the past 3 years, however, there have been no
further shifts.
11.10 Natural Fibre Composites
Beyond the Automotive Industry
The automotive suppliers surveyed were
asked whether they were also producing
composites for other branches. Several small
and medium suppliers affirmed this, which
together amounted to approximately 150 t
that were processed mainly with PP-NF
granulates using the injection moulding
35.000
30.000
29.000
28.000
30.000
26.500
23.500
25.000
19.000
20.000
15.000
15.000
10.000
5.000
0
1999
2000
2001 2002
year
thermoplast
2003
2004
2005
thermoset
* without wood and cotton
Fig. 11.5.
Natural fibre reinforced composites (not including wood and cotton) in the German automotive
industry 1999-2005 (nova-Institut, November 2006).
