SAMPE Journal - March/April 2023 - 22

FEATURE
BAMBOO FIBER
Overmolding Textile Grade Carbon Fiber Tape and
Bamboo Fiber Polypropylene Composites
Sanjita Wasti1, Benjamin Schwartz1, Pritesh Yeole1, Georges Chahine1, Halil Tekinalp2
Merlin Theodore4, Jaydeep Kolape5, and Uday Vaidya1,2
,3
1Tickle College of Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
2Manufacturing Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
3
Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI)-The Composites Institute, Knoxville, TN
4
Carbon Fiber Technology Facility, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
5
College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Email: uvaidya@utk.edu
ABSTRACT
The trend of using natural fiber composites is increasing rapidly due to the growing environmental concerns
and increased awareness on sustainability. However, due to the lower strength of natural fibers (95- 1600MPa)
compared to synthetic fibers (2000-4000 MPa), high moisture absorption rate, variation in the fiber properties,
and lower processing temperature range limit its applications. This study advances the concept of overmolding
of bamboo fiber-polypropylene (BF-PP) composites with unidirectional and 0/90 textile grade carbon fiber
(TCF) tape. BF-PP composites were processed using extrusion compression molding (ECM) technique. TCF
tape was produced on a thermoplastic polymer impregnation line. Mechanical and morphological properties of
overmolded hybrid composites were studied. These studies attempted to evaluate the interface between the
BF-PP and the TCF thermoplastic tape. Flexural strength and flexural modulus of BF-PP composites increased
by ~152% and ~164% respectively by overmolding BF-PP with unidirectional TCF tape; and by ~53% and ~54%
respectively on overmolding 0/90 TCF thermoplastic tape. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of
the TCF tape overmolded BF-PP composites exhibited good interfacial bonding.
Disclaimer: " The information, data, or work presented herein was funded in part by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United
States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use
would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark,
manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government
or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government
or any agency thereof. "
22 | SAMPE JOURNAL | MARCH APRIL 2023
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,
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SAMPE Journal - March/April 2023

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