IIT-Guwahati researchers develop bamboo-based composite for greener automobile interiors

Time of India

3 days ago

NEW DELHI: Offering a practical, eco-friendly substitute for plastic components in cars, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a bamboo-based composite that can be used in dashboards, seat backs, and door panels, combining high mechanical strength with low environmental impact.
These composites can even replace plastic or wood parts in electronics, furniture, and building materials
The material, made using Bambusa tulda, a fast-growing bamboo species from Northeast India, is reinforced with biodegradable polymers and has demonstrated strong performance in terms of thermal stability, tensile strength, and moisture resistance, key requirements for automotive interiors.
The research, led by Poonam Kumari, professor in the department of mechanical engineering, addresses the growing need to reduce plastic waste and transition towards renewable materials in industrial applications.
The team tested four bamboo-based formulations using both bio-based and conventional epoxies, evaluating them on 17 parameters including tensile strength, thermal resistance, water absorption, and production cost.
To identify the most balanced formulation, the researchers applied a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method, which pointed to a bio-epoxy blend made with FormuLite as the most suitable option.
This variant demonstrated high tensile strength (144.76 MPa), significant thermal stability (glass transition temperature of 111.72°C), and the lowest moisture absorption (4.49%). The cost was also competitive at Rs 4,300 per kilogram, making it suitable for components like dashboards, seat backs, and door panels.
'These composites can replace plastic or wood parts not just in automobiles but also in electronics, furniture, and building materials,' said Kumari.
'Their use aligns with India's Green Tech Revolution and Make in India goals, and supports several Sustainable Development Goals.'
The team also performed a life-cycle assessment of the material, with plans to scale up production using industrial processes like resin transfer and compression moulding. The research has been published in Environment, Development and Sustainability (Springer Nature), with Kumari co-authoring the paper alongside her PhD students Abir Saha and Nikhil Dilip Kulkarni.
The initiative builds on IIT-Guwahati's broader sustainability agenda, reflected in its high ranks in both the NIRF and global SDG-based rankings. With this development, the institute adds momentum to the use of indigenous materials in high-performance engineering applications.