Development of Eco-Friendly Bamboo Fiber-Reinforced Composites for Automotive Interiors: A Research by IIT Guwahati

A team of researchers led by Dr. Poonam Kumari in the department of mechanical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati has led to the development of a high-performance bamboo fiber-reinforced composite for automotive interior applications.

The development of natural fiber-reinforced composites not only addresses the concern of plastic waste but also provides a solution to the growing global demand for greener and cleaner materials, particularly in the automotive manufacturing industries.

Development of bamboo fiber-reinforced composite

The eco-friendly composite was made from "Bambusa tulda," also known as Indian timber bamboo, a fast-growing bamboo species in the northeast, in combination with bio-based epoxy resin. The compatibility of fiber with polymer was improved by treating fibers with an alkaline solution (NaOH), resulting in improved durability for real-world use. The different formulations for composites were developed and evaluated for their thermo-mechanical behaviour, moisture absorption, and cost per kilogram. While the developed composite formulations had distinct strength, none of them provided a balance of properties and performance. To find the same, the researchers utilized Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) evaluation technique.

Dr. Poonam Kumari showing the developed composite (Source: IIT Guwahati)

Results of the fabricated composite

The results demonstrated that bamboo composite with bio-based epoxy FormuLite was the best-performing composite with optimum mechanical strength, thermal stability, and low water absorption. The cost of this composite material was evaluated to be Rs 4300/- per kilogram, making it an environmentally friendly solution for automotive components, like dashboards, seat backs, and door panels, among others.

Future research

The research team is currently conducting a full life cycle assessment of the manufactured composite to investigate its environmental influence from production to disposal. Also, the team is planning to use manufacturing methods such as compression molding and resin-transfer molding to scale up production.

Speaking about the developed composite, Dr. Poonam Kumari said, “The developed composite can be used for designing components/parts in consumer electronics, automobiles, aerospace, sustainable building materials, etc. The product will replace wood/iron/plastic components and will have a similar cost and lead to fulfilling SGD goals (7, 8, and 9). This development is in line with the Make in India policy under the Green Tech Revolution.”

Also read: Choosing Between Long and Short Fiber Reinforced Composite Materials: Properties, Pros, and Applications