Natural-Fiber | Glass-Fiber Hybrid
Bio-composite Building Materials
Innovator: Dr. R. Gopalan, Executive Director
Composites Technology Park, Bangalore
Composite Technology Park’s (CTP)
Natural-Fiber | Glass-Fiber Bio-Composite Building Materials
 Engineered mixture of:
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Glass-fiber and natural-fiber
Typically bamboo, coir & jute fibers
Desired ratio and orientation of fibers that exploits qualities
of both fibers for cost & performance benefits.
 Mixture processed for manufacture of a variety of
products including:
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Roofing panels
Decks
Bridges
Interior and exterior building walls and floors
Structurally insulated panels (SIPs)
Emergency shelters
Off-shore deck platforms.
Performance Characteristics
 UV, water, fungus, mold, corrosion, salt, alkaline, abrasion, heat,
rot and wood infestation resistant.
 Can be engineered to be practically termite proof and waterproof.
 Estimated R-value expected to be twice that of most woods.
 Superior strength—Primary component bamboo:

Has a tensile strength of 28,000 pounds/square inch—
greater than steel

Withstands up to 52,000 pounds of pressure per square
inch—more than concrete.
 Lends itself to manufacture of structural insulated panels (SIPs) &
foam sandwich panels.
Bamboo / Glass Fiber Bio-Composite Sandwich Wall Panels
Processed under controlled temperature & pressure in
compression moulding press then cut to required size.
High:
 Strength–Weight Ratio
 Stiffness
 Workability
1.
 Standard size:
4ft X 8ft
 Thickness:
35 mm–100 mm
 Density:
160kg /m³–260kg/m³
Bamboo / Glass Fiber Bio-Composite Roofing Panels
Impregnated w/high performance polymeric resin &
 Lightweight
processed under high temperature & compression molding.  High Strength & Stiffness
 High Thermal & Electrical
Insulation
 High impact resistant
 Polyurethane foam thermal
insulated also available
Standard size = 4ft X 8ft
Thickness = 3.2 mm – 5.0 mm
Density = 950kg/m³ – 1125kg/m³
Bamboo / Glass Fiber Bio-Composite Floor & Wall Panels
 Thickness: 9 mm – 18 mm
 Density: 800kg/m³ – 1000kg/m³
 Anti-skid SMC layer
 Electrical insulation characteristics
 Application: Floor panel for
chemical/corrosion environment
 Standard size = 4ft X 4ft
 Thickness = 12 mm – 20 mm
 Density = 800kg/m³ – 1000kg/m³
 Corrosion and termite resistance
 Better heat resistance
Color impregnation available
Characteristics of Major Component: Bamboo
 70% - 80% of bio-composite is typically bamboo.
 Harvested in 3-5 years versus 10 – 50 years for most timber.
 Weight/acre per year up to 25 times higher than timber.
 Each acre removes up to 4.8 tons of carbon dioxide/year and
generates up to 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees.
 Harvesting is non-invasive to the environment--typically cut by hand
and transported by light truck.
 Absorbs pollutants in damaged soil and mitigates water pollution due to
its high nitrogen consumption especially from waste water.
 Bamboo is not a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Bamboo-Fiber | Glass-Fiber Bio-Composite Examples by CTP
Early CTP demo structure 3.5 yrs a
Prefabricated military office / housi
CTP materials: walls, floors & roof
Bamboo-Fiber | Glass-Fiber Bio-Composite Examples by CTP
One of 25 Sakthi Hill Resort
Guesthouses built 2.5 years ago
outside Bangalore. Frequent
compliments from guests and
inquiries for purchase and
manufacture of materials
Prefabricated shelter,
multipurpose:
• Disaster management.
• Emergency shelters.
Bamboo-Fiber | Glass-Fiber Bio-Composite Examples by CTP
Modular toilet and shower unit
3.5 years of testing to date
Pyramid on CTP Campus
Outdoor Restroom
Technology Assessment
 Professor Billie Faircloth, School of Architecture, University of Texas at
Austin: “You can create these technologies on a scientists’ desk, but
can you ramp up towards production? Dr. Gopalan’s research has
found a way to create a process for manufacturing which is always the
technology transfer issue. It’s often a very slow process. That’s what’s
unique about Dr. Gopalan’s company: he is very, very close in being
able to hand off his technology to a company to actually put into
production.”
 Not simply a research lab, The Composite Technology Park directed by
Dr. Gopalan is able to manufacture 300,000 square meters/year of biocomposite panels.
 Winner, Lockheed Martin | IC2 Gold Award for Outstanding New
Innovation, July 18, 2007.
Development & IP Status
 Products are tested, evaluated, & certified by national laboratory.
 Roofing panel being certified by ASTM International Laboratory.
 Prototype products being demonstrated at over 100 locations.
 Technology is patented in India.
 Patent will be filed in US in about 2 months
 Renowned Indian composites experts with 30+ years experience in
our Board
 Highly
qualified
technicians
and
experienced
engineers,
scientists
and
Commercialization Information
Opportunities:
• Direct ordering of materials.
• Exclusive distribution agreements.
• Manufacturing license.
• www.compositestechnologypark.com
Contact:
Jim Vance
Global Commercialization Programs
The IC2 Institute
The University of Texas at Austin
jvance@icc.utexas.edu
http://www.ic2.utexas.edu/global/
Office: 512-232-3590
Mobile: 512-970-8442
www.compositestechnologypark.com