Assam researcher explores industrial use of bamboo-epoxy fibre | Guwahati News

Guwahati: Bamboo, a daily integral part of life in the northeastern region, is increasingly being used as a sustainable material to develop alternate eco-friendly engineering parts that could revolutionise automotive and aerospace industries.State-based researcher Prriyam Kashyap from IIT- Bhilai and his team members — Kunal Bora, Santosh Kumar Tamang, and Jose Immanuel — are exploring how mixing bamboo fibre of Phyllostachys bambusoides, sourced from the Apatani Plateau of Arunachal Pradesh, with epoxy can create composites that are both strong and light weight.“Our tests showed that composites with 15% bamboo fibre have excellent wear and tear resistance and friction stability, making them ideal for components that face high mechanical stress,” Kashyap said.These Phyllostachys Bambusoides are also found in Japan, as Madake bamboo, which holds a significant place in Japanese culture and landscape for its strength.“When incorporated into polymer composite, it further improves mechanical durability, friction stability and surface quality, making it a potential replacement for synthetic fibres in industrial application. Our work also shows that northeast’s bamboo can be a local, sustainable source for high performance composites, and advanced defence materials,” he added.He also said beyond defence and engineering, its antibacterial properties also make it suitable for medical, hygienic, and eco-sustainable applications, supporting the country’s goal for a green and circular economy.Sharma, who has been doing this research under an AICTE-funded project, had earlier developed epoxy-based bamboo composites for shipping containers using artificial intelligence. Building success from his innovative work, his team has secured grants from the ministry of DoNER and the North Eastern Council (NEC) to develop radar absorbent materials using carbon-based and bamboo charcoal composites. “The goal is to create lightweight, radar absorbing materials for stealth drone technology aimed at enhancing the Indian army’s capabilities,” he added.