Jute Fiber: Best alternative in Auto Industries

Mercedes (Daimler), Chrysler, BMW, Audi, Ford, Opel, and General Motors are using press-molded parts containing natural fibers in their new model vehicles. 

In door panels, hat racks and spare tire covers are the most usable place for natural fiber.

For example, hemp fibers used in inner door panels of the S-class (Mercedes) and the back shelf of the Opel-Astra. There are some significant positive impact on automotive to use natural fiber (jute).

It reduces the total vehicle weight almost ten to thirty percent based on usage, which is directly impact on fuel consumption of the vehicle. Superior environmental balance during material and energetic use, confirmed by several studies.

American’s all automakers introduced all-new model made with sustainable materials. The “green” car employs green solutions to reduce petroleum-based content such as seat fabrics and interior plastics.

Among the production materials, the company has added the use of recycled cotton, clear plastic bottles and soybeans.

They are charged with increasing the use of renewable and recyclable materials in upcoming vehicles, utilities and trucks to reduce impact on the environment. Japanese automakers also trying to do the same thing. They plan to use green and natural material replacing synthetic petroleum product.    

This is the best time to create a new market for jute. Western countries are using ‘green’ and environment friendly product. Therefore, jute has to change its textile fiber outlook and steadily heading towards its newer identity. Jute packaging used as an eco-friendly substitute, again back to natural packaging from plastic product.

Jute is replacing synthetic materials in many of these areas. They take advantage of jute`s biodegradable nature whereas synthetics would be unsuitable. As jute fibers are also being used to make pulp and paper with increasing concern over forest destruction for the wood pulp used to make most paper the importance of jute for this purpose may increase.

Natural fibers have the advantage of being environmentally friendly, light in weight and yet high in tensile strength, all at a lower cost than synthetic alternatives. Traditionally jute was used in textile machineries as textile fibers having cellulose and lignin.

In Auto industries, ‘Kenaf’ is the most important natural fibers. The use of kenaf fibers is a relatively new development. So far, only one German supplier uses kenaf; the fibers originate from Asia, specifically from Bangladesh. Further development will therefore largely depend on that manufacturer.

The development of the jute market in Bangladesh depends on the social and economic development of the country. Currently, the fibers are manually extracted by farmers using antiquated methods and generate only a marginal income.

Technical expertise in auto industries are selecting material in a conservative manner. The important factors in raw material section is the cost and availability of materials. Auto expert has some miss conception - Minor structural changes in jute extraction process may drastically increase jute prices. Here in this point, Bangladesh has the opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of jute using in Auto industries, including ensure availability.

Technically speaking, the use of natural fibers in automotive applications involves primarily press-molded composites, produced by the pressing of a nonwoven mat with a binder. Typical uses are in door panels, hat racks, and trunk liners.

Blends of natural fibers (e.g., flax and jute or flax and hemp) are particularly interesting. The finer flax fibers impart high stability, but because they impede complete soaking with thermos setting binders, fractures may develop. Only the mixture with coarser sisal or hemp fibers achieves an optimum balance between stability and complete saturation with the binder.

The jute and jute goods have a huge demand in Europe and American market, as the products are environmental-friendly. The world is increasingly growing conscious about harmful polythene and other products, and looking jute product as the best alternative for the issue.

It includes fiber, yarn and fabric-based products like pulp, paper, cellulose, denim, carpet, blanket, geo-textiles, technical textiles, hammock, sweater, suitcase and brief case. Export dresses of both traditional and western including expensive bed covers made of cotton mixed with jute yarn.

Jute has a long history of use in the sackings, carpets, wrapping fabrics, and the construction fabric manufacturing industry. It can be used to create a number of fabrics such as Hessian cloth, sacking, scrim, carpet backing cloth and canvas.

The fibers are used alone or blended with other types of fibers to make twine and rope. Hessian, lighter than sacking, is used for bags, wrappers, wall-coverings, upholstery, and home furnishings. Jute butts the coarse ends of the plants are used to make inexpensive cloth. Conversely, very fine threads of jute can be separated out and made into imitation silk. Sacking, a fabric made of heavy jute fibers, has its use in the name.

As a textile fiber, jute has reached its peak it is so challenging to progress. As a wood fiber, jute has many promising features. The government and local investor should take initiative to make sure the diversified use of jute fibers.

If the jute research organizations confirm quality product and reach the global green market in time then Bangladesh may be able to monopolize the market again. Jute Research Institute, Dhaka was able to get patent for jute a big achievement. Now they need to create engineering and product development department to prove quality diversity product. 

Jute has multiple positive impact on automotive industries. Occupational health advantages compared to glass fibers. Jute product using in vehicle giving a great performance in crush safety, it gives high stability and no splintering.

Now a day every countries updating there regulation on vehicle safety, specifically enforce to use environmental friendly materials, the toxicity. Jute has no emission to toxic substance.  Jute has good mechanical and manufacturing properties. Possibility to manufacture complex structural elements from one material in a single pass by jute fiber. Overall, cost advantage compared to conventional construction.

Once upon a time ‘Jute’ known as the golden fiber of Bangladesh, because it was the most important cash crop for the country. Bangladesh used to have a monopoly of jute fiber commercially. Its share in the export market was 80 percent from 1947-48 but in 1975- 76, it fell to only 25 percent.

The polypropylene products start to substitute traditional jute products causing the jute market go down gradually. The biggest Jute mills ‘Adamjee Jute Mills’ officially closed. Many countries had started growing jute and allied fibers.

The death of Adamjee Jute Mills started during the 1990s. After a strong battle for endurance, Adamjee Jute Mills was officially declared dead on 30 June 2002 by the government. It is an exact example of miss - management. Overstaffing, discipline in work environment and abuse of worker union power was identified but it was not improved.

Beside that Product quality and production rate failed to satisfy overseas buyer. Day by day all the jute mills stop their production and killed a promising exportable industry. It’s another example of cutting off the head due to headache.

Now a day jute products are a preferred choice of the global consumers due to its environmental- friendly nature. The major breakthrough came when the automobile, pulp paper, and the furniture and bedding industries started to use jute and its allied fibers with their non-woven and composite technology to manufacture nonwovens, technical textiles, and composites.

They are an ideal alternative for petrochemical-based fibers currently used in manufacturing many composite products. In addition, fibers make an excellent replacement for fiberglass. Ultimately, the customers are able to offer profitable `green` solutions to their marketplaces. We have to go for diversification more and more to get back her golden past.

Bangladesh government taking some initiative to support farmers to produce jute, scientist to develop more variety. Need little more attention to support investor to build industry to produced processed jute product to lead this automotive sector.

Writer: Advance Automotive Engineer, Michigan USA