%0 Generic
%A Rubio, A.
%A Elizetxea, C.
%A Calleja, N.
%A Gaztelumendi, I.
%T Natural fibre composites for automotive applications
%J REWAS'04 - Global Symposium on Recycling, Waste Treatment and Clean Technology
%D 2005
%U https://hdl.handle.net/11556/2554
%X The main advantage of the use of composite materials is related to their intrinsic lightweight. In this way, labour and transport costs will be strongly decreased, and the total weight of the manufactured part will be minimised. The reduction of weight implies a considerable reduction of fuel consumption with the consequent respect to the environment. Although glass fibres, as plastics, are not intrinsically harmful to the environment, some of their products can be dangerous or, at least, environment "unfriendly". The health hazards of dealing with glass fibres have been already mentioned. A second drawback of these materials regards their recyclability because it requires costly separation procedures. It is clear that from this point of view natural fibre offer more possibilities for a complete recyclability allowing the development of «eco-waste» technologies and products. This work has been carried out within the European Growth Project G5RD-CT1999-00147 "Eco-Efficient Technologies and Products based on Natural Fibre Composites-ECOFINA".
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