| Fast-growing, recyclable bamboo
is one of the most interesting materials for future use in vehicle interiors,
say wood component suppliers. It could cut costs and lifecycle CO2 emissions.
Bamboo-fibre-reinforced interior parts are already in limited use. The
material features in the interior of the Mitsubishi iMiEV, a prototype
electric version of its iCar mini undergoing trials in Japan.
European suppliers have been testing bamboo and say it has strong potential.
Johnson Controls material designer Britta Leer said: “Unlike hardwoods,
bamboo regrows in less than five years. We’ve been testing its use
for the past three years, and there are now show cars set to move into
production.”
Johnson Controls has been looking at bamboo yarn for use in car seats.
Behr Industries has also been developing bamboo and coconut fibre products,
which it says will be suitable for use as a backing material in seats
and for wood trim components.
“There’s an increasing imbalance between the popularity of
wood and the amount of forest left,” said Leer. “Bamboo is
dense, but light and flexible and something we’re looking at very
seriously.” Bamboo grows to its full height in a few years, traditional
timber takes decades.
Mitsubishi said the “green plastic” bamboo-fibre-reinforced
resin used in the iMiEV produces 50 per cent less lifecycle CO2 than the
polypropylene it replaces.
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