Development of New Materials Based on Bioepoxy Resins with Natural Fibers for the Automotive Industry

Abstract

In the present work, natural fibers such as fique, hemp, flax, and jute were used to reinforce a thermoset polymer matrix with biodegradable characteristics. These materials were mixed using the composite manufacturing technique known as Hand Lay-Up. Each fiber/matrix combination was characterized through tensile tests under ASTM D3039 standard. Additionally, a simulation was carried out using CAD/CAE software to evaluate the behavior of the composite materials under study in a part of the rear compartment of a Nissan X-Trail. The results showed that the composite materials present good homogeneity in the stress/strain graphs, as well as brittle fracture at values close to each test specimen analyzed. The simulation yielded encouraging results for their application in vehicle interiors.