Acrodur^® for natural fibers in automotive

Performance meets sustainability

The weight of a car is crucial for its performance. Natural fibers enable the production of stable light-weight car parts and shape the way we drive tomorrow – when treated with Acrodur® by BASF.

Acrodur® is a water-based binder with no added formaldehyde, that transforms renewables such as hemp, kenaf, flax and wood into light-weight, stable and durable functional composites. Due to its high-flexibility, easy-processing features and a superior thermomechanical stability, low-emission Acrodur® is the automotive industry`s binder of choice to create stable, sustainable and environmental-friendly car components that weigh up to 50% less than traditional metal parts.

More information on binders and additives for advanced nonwovens

Acrodur® stands for

Water-based binder; no added formaldehyde; low in VOC
Suitable for a wide range of natural fibers, such as hemp, kenaf, wood
Enabling light-weight solutions
Possessing superior thermo-mechanical stability
Applicable for thermoset and thermoplastic processes

Sustainable Composites for the Automotive Industry

Resource efficiency and eco-friendliness are becoming decisive factors in the automotive industry, which is why we developed tailor-made solutions that can support the automotive industry in becoming more sustainable.

Enabling a stable Multi-Material-Design in DLR`s „Next Generation Car“

Energy-efficiency, eco-friendliness, road safety: The DLR project „Next Generation Car“ addresses the automotive industry´s future challenges in terms of reduced environmental impact and improved safety and comfort. The new concept car consists of a light-weight, multi-material body structure with functional integration that combines conventional metal parts with high-performance natural fibers.

A central safety-relevant part of DLR´s NGC is made of renewable light-weight components: the interior floor consists of Acrodur^®-treated natural fibers that protect the body against mechanical deformation. In that way, BASF supported the engineers in designing stable, tailor-made and extremely light components without compromising on performance criteria. The result: a highly-efficient light-weight car body that meets high safety standards, saves resources and fulfills stringent CO₂ emission regulations.

DLR and its "Next Generation Car" at a glance

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is the national aeronautics and space research center of the Federal Republic of Germany
With its transport program, the DLR is the second-largest institutionally funded transport research body in Europe
The DLR project "Next Generation Car (NGC)" aims to drive forward the development of quiet, low-emission road vehicles with a high degree of automation and a long-range.

Shaping future mobility together: DLR, BNP Brinkmann and BASF.

Lightweight technology plays a key role in automotive design, especially when it comes to e-mobility: only a subtle balance between net weight and power preserves the driving pleasure and reduces the energy consumption and, consequently, CO₂ emissions. To create safe and sustainable components that reduce the weight of electric-driven vehicles, three future-driven players joined forces: BASF delivered Acrodur^® for natural fibers and produced, together with BNP Brinkman, a tailor-made and extremely stable lightweight interior floor for one of DLR`s „Next Generation Cars“. This concept car combines latest automotive light-weight design approaches with innovative renewable materials and will shape tomorrow´s mobility.