Let’s get the Lead-in of AUTOMOTIVE TEXTILES
Globalization being the key theme, the 1980s marked a significant
era characterized by the commercial introduction of numerous new
materials. The technical textiles, which include applications in
medical, civil engineering & automotive fields are increasingly
recognized as one of the most dynamic & promising sectors for the
future of textile industry.
AUTOMOTIVE TEXTILES, a subset of technical textiles, encompass a
wide range of fabric & material applications specifically designed
for vehicles, such as interior trims, seats, carpets, door panels,
headliners, airbags, seat belts, upholstery, filters & insulators. The
growth in automotive textiles is highlighted for the explosive
expansion in car production, which is 85.4 million globally.
▪ Wondering how was the early automobiles?
The first commercial car, designed by Karl Benz in 1885, used steel
tubing and wood panels for the driver’s compartment. Early vehicles
had simple wooden seats covered with leather scraps, fabric, or
horse blankets. Leather and wood interiors were common until the
1950s when plastic moldings and synthetic fibers started being
used, making car interiors resemble upscale furniture. Synthetic
leathers and vinyl were introduced for better durability and ease of
cleaning. Nowadays, to reduce weight and emissions, new
developments focus on using fabrics and fiber-based materials.
▪ Purpose & applications of AUTOMOTIVE TEXTILES
Improving vehicle comfort, high performance, reduce weight for
better fuel efficiency & support sustainable practices.
1. Comforts – Flexible, warm & soft feel of seats, moist
& odor resistant interior.
2. Decorative – Better interior, carpets.
3. Safety purpose – Seat belts, air bags.
4. Functional Textiles – Noise control fabrics, filters,
battery separator.
▪ Used textiles in automative applications
1. SEAT COVER: Woven seat covers are made from
cotton, vinyl, velvet & leather.
2. HELMET: Principal function of a helmet is to absorb
the shock of a crash & put a stop to major injury to the
brain, rather than preventing head & face crack.
Internal layer- polystyrene or polypropylene foam,
External layer- plastic, glass & other manmade fibers.
3. SUNVISORS: Located just above the windshield to
increase visibility but blocking the sunlight from
entering.
4. SEAT BELTS: Made from nylon yarn or polyester yarn.
5. INTERIOR CARPETS
6. CAR BODY COVERS: Used to cover cars
7. TYRE CORDS: A tire is a ring-shaped component that
surrounds a wheel’s rim to transfer a vehicle’s load
from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to
provide traction on the surface traveled over. The belt
system’s main function is to provide stability to the
tire’s tread area, which contributes to wear, handling
and traction.
8. HEADLINERS: It’s a back up that is stick on to the
interior roof of automobiles. Mostly made of tricot
knit fabric.
9. AIR BAGS: A safety device aimed at preventing or
minimizing injury to passengers when such an
accident occurs.
▪ Conclusion
Automotive textiles are required to adhere to rigorous performance
criteria, including strength, resistance to abrasion and heat, flame
retardancy, and long-term durability. As automotive technology
advances, these textiles play a key role in enhancing driving
experiences & meeting evolving industry demands.
Writer Information:
Nasratun Duha
Student, Textile Fashion & Design Department,
Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX)
Campus Team Member, Textile Engineers Society (TES)