The motor vehicle manufacturing industry is one of the largest consumers of innovative textile materials.  

Cars contain enough textiles to cover the floor of a small apartment and textiles are in everything from car seats, seat belts, carpets, airbags and roof liners.

In total an average car may contain in the region of 40 m2 of textiles while other components like door panels, brakes and dashboards are made from composites which is a combination of textile fibre and resins (glue). The use of textiles continues to the car’s engine, the air and oil filters and even tyres.

Textiles are perfect for these components because they are versatile, cost effective, light weight and promote fuel efficiency. Natural fibres like cotton, hemp, flax, silk and wool are more readily available and a lot easier to process than the metals used in car manufacturing, thus making them essential in keeping manufacturing costs low.

“Textiles can be manipulated into various shapes with ease and the fibres used in them are light weight which makes for a lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicle. Also, by reducing emissions these textiles contribute to a healthier environment,” says Dr Asis Patnaik from CPUT’s Clothing and Textile Department.

Many of the innovations in car manufacturing can be traced to Formula One racing, where the more conventional use for textiles, in clothing, is also incorporated. The door panels in luxury vehicle are made from carbon fibre composites, which were first used in Formula One cars. The suits worn the by the drivers are also made from material that protects them from the high temperatures and pressures they are subjected to when racing.

“Textiles have a diverse range of applications in automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, building, medical, hygiene, packaging, civil engineering, protective clothing, agriculture and sports. It is a unique and exciting area, where many inter-disciplinary fields are working together in developing a better world,” adds Patnaik.

Written by Abigail Calata

A group of academically-deserving Clothing Management students at CPUT are the latest recipients of bursaries, each valued at R50 000.

Thanks to the perseverance and assistance of staff members at the Clothing and Textile Department, 24 students have been awarded bursaries from the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Seta (FP&M SETA).

Together the funding totals R3 million spanning the period 2016 -2018.

The bursaries form part of FP&M SETA’s Special Project Bursary Programme, which is aimed at supporting students with the goal of developing work-ready graduates for the various sectors it represents.

Head of the department, Dr Elspa Hovgaard, says in the past educational institutions were required to apply for the bursaries on behalf of the students; however, this year the call was made directly to students to apply.

Not wanting any student to miss out on a funding opportunity, Hovgaard says as a department they rallied together to ensure students applied.

“We pushed our students to apply. We went into every classroom and gave each student an application form,” she says.

The department then went the further mile and couriered all the applications to the FP&M SETA, which is based in Johannesburg.

The bursaries were allocated to students enrolled in the Extended Curriculum Programme, first-years and BTech students.

In addition to the FP&M SETA’s funding, Hovgaard says the department also received R100 000 from the CSIR to allocate to students.

These funds were allocated to 10 academically-deserving senior students, who were not on any funding programmes. Eight students were allocated R11 875, to cover their tuition whilst two BTech students had the balance of their outstanding fees covered.

Hovgaard says the much needed bursaries are welcomed by the department and students.

*Image courtesy of Mister GC at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Written by Candes Keating
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