This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will address the three major factors currently limiting the global production of bamboo fibers for composites. First, all natural fibers absorb water from the air and direct contact from the environment. Second, the strength of natural fiber composites is less than that of composites reinforced with glass fibers. Part of this reduced strength is a result of the poor bonding between the fiber and the resin matrix. The labor-intensive raw material processing requirements constitute a third factor which inhibits the US in particular from developing a bamboo industry. All three of these issues will be addressed through a novel fiber extraction and treatment process. Development of bamboo fiber reinforcements will advance the state-of-the-art for plant fiber products. Additional significant innovative aspects of this process lie in the assessment of a bamboo species capable of being grown in the US, automation of raw bamboo processing, utilization of waste products for neutralization of treatment wastewater and implementation of a fully optimized multi-step material functionalization process.
The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be an increased usage of sustainable materials, increased revenue for US agriculture, increased domestic and international sales of a new and innovative product line, and additional jobs in support of research, manufacturing, and sales of bamboo fiber-reinforced composites. Bamboo in particular can provide manufacturers with a reduced-cost reinforcing material that has similar specific mechanical properties to fiberglass. An untapped market exists for the use of Bamboo fibers as reinforcements in compounded thermoplastics and as fiber reinforcement material in thermoset composites. The development of a novel processing technique will enable the team to capitalize on this market by supplying products which can compete with traditional fiberglass. This process will support the birth of an entirely new industry that expands US agriculture and encourages global distribution of US-manufactured, environmentally friendly products. Moreover, increases in Bamboo cultivation as result of these new products will help mitigate adverse environmental impacts and improve public health. This will be done by the inherent sequestration of carbon dioxide in the plant growth cycle, and a reduction in the pollution associated with the use of high-energy fiber processing techniques.
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project has succeeded in developing novel technology and methodology for the extraction of fiber from the bamboo plant. In addition to sourcing benefits, bamboo has other qualities that make it more attractive than other natural fibers. This research project has found that bamboo fibers have the lowest density of all natural fibers targeted for composite applications which results in very high specific properties. Moreover, bamboo’s current popularity as a sustainable material surpasses all other plants. Bamboo fibers for use in composites have seen some research in literature; however, they have not been commercialized due to several technical challenges. Foremost, extraction of consistent, usable fibers is difficult. Secondly, Bamboo, as with all natural fibers, exhibits poor matrix bonding and absorbs water. Lastly, converting these fibers into valuable forms or architectures is critical for adoption by the composites industry. All three of these issues have been addressed through a novel fiber extraction and treatment process. Development of Bamboo fiber reinforcing products are advancements in the state of art for plant fiber products. Additional significant innovative aspects to process lie in the assessment of a Bamboo species capable of being grown in the US, automation of raw Bamboo processing, and implementation of a fully optimized multi-step material functionalization process. Through the course of this work Gradient has found that extraction of consistent bamboo fibers bundles is possible, it is feasible to perform automated mechanical processing, bamboo fiber mechanical properties have been consistently evaluated and are found to be higher than all published data, coupling treatments are capable of improving interfacial shear strength and do not negatively affect the fiber mechanical properties, prototype methods were developed to manufacture chopped strand mat, a cutting process can effectively yield compounding fibers, moisture absorption tendencies can be reduced and the fibers are compatible with at least one bio-resin. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be an increased usage of sustainable materials, increased revenue for US agriculture, increased domestic and international sales of a new and innovative product line, and additional jobs in support of research, manufacturing, and sales of bamboo fiber-reinforced composites. Bamboo in particular can provide manufacturers with a reduced-cost reinforcing material that has similar specific mechanical properties to fiberglass. Moreover, opportunities exist to reuse lignin, a waste product generated in the fiber extraction process, for such applications as the manufacture of carbon fiber. The Gradient processes will support the growth of a nascent industry that expands US agriculture in new directions, and encourages global distribution of US-manufactured, environmentally-friendly products. Moreover, increases in Bamboo cultivation as a result of these new products, will help mitigate adverse environmental impacts and improve public health. This will be done by the inherent sequestration of carbon dioxide in the plant growth cycle, and a reduction in the pollution associated with the use of high-energy glass fiber processing techniques.
