CSIR transfers bamboo composites manufacturing know-how to Asili Bamboo Products
According to Press Information Bureau of India the know-how technology on “bamboo composites” was transferred to a materials manufacturing company, Asili Bamboo Products, Meerut, during the second day of the science festival held on 18 Jan 2024 at Faridabad.
Bamboo composites industrial product has been developed using environment friendly technique by natural and versatile resource bamboo. Bamboo has been declared as grass and it proliferates rapidly with no stringent rules and regulations imposed for its growing, cultivation, propagation and cutting. Within 3-4 years, the bamboo gets matured can be utilised for developing into bamboo composites, unlike teak wood, which requires 30-40 years to grow. Bamboo is also an excellent absorber of CO2 and releases oxygen in large amount (approximately 35%) which helps to cure global warming. The bamboo composites product resembles teak wood with better durability & dimensional stability, high strength, density, mechanical strength, fire resistance, moisture resistance, and natural & aesthetic appearance.
The technology of manufacturing bamboo composites, developed by Council if Scientific and Industrial Research- Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (CSIR-AMPRI), Bhopal has sequential steps like cutting of bamboo poles to desired sizes, splitting to strips, removal of knots, chemical treatment for protection against microbial/natural degradation, its conversion to fibrous form without damaging the natural strength of bamboo fibres, coating of adequate pre-polymer, which is followed by compaction under appropriate heat and pressure to obtain a composite sample of the desired shape. The final shape may be a moulded article, plain sheet, thick boards, beams, etc. These shapes can be further machined for the final finished product.
After the successful trials at industrial level, panel boards, beams, pillars, partitions, doors, window frames, roof, floorings etc., were developed, and a “Demonstration Structure (AMPRI’s Bamboo Composite Committee Room “Baithak”),” made up of bamboo composites has been erected in the campus of CSIR-AMPRI Bhopal in January 2022. It has a hexagonal base erected with a Peak height of 13’ 8”, a Max span of 24’8”, and a Floor area of 253 sq. ft. It includes walls, roofs, floors, beams, poles, doors, and window frames of bamboo composites. Using AMPRI’s bamboo composite technology recently, a similar structure has been erected at CSIR-NEIST, Jorhat, Assam.
Due to its unique characteristics, the developed bamboo composites can also be used in various other sectors, especially in Aerospace. Therefore, bamboo can create future products similar to wood with a ten times faster harvest cycle, and with the growth in farming and cultivation of bamboo, generation of employment, especially in rural areas. The technology has the potential to attract and encourage micro, small and medium enterprises, start-ups, etc., and thus, supports in achieving sustainable goals by contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Swasth Bharat Abhiyaan, Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.
Bamboo “Baithak” at CSIR-AMPRI and CSIR-NEIST