MUMBAI, India, July 24 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641085147 A) filed by Mahendra Engineering College on July 11, 2026, for Experimental Investigation Of Lightweight And Sustainable Natural Fiber Composites For Automotive Roof-Top Panel Applications.
Inventors include Mr. V. Sugan; Dr. M.; Mr. R. Pradeepraj; Mr. A. Tharun; Mr. R. Vetrivel; and Mr. P. S Yogeshvarshan.
The application for the patent was published on July 17, 2026, under issue no. 29/2026.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a lightweight hybrid sandwich composite roof panel developed for automotive roof-top applications. The composite structure comprises a seven-layer symmetrical configuration consisting of E-glass fibre reinforcement layers, flax fibre reinforcement layers, a polyurethane foam core, and an epoxy matrix system formed using Araldite LY556 epoxy resin and HY951 hardener. The panel is fabricated using a hand lay-up process and cured under ambient conditions to achieve strong interfacial bonding and structural integrity. The developed roof panel weighs approximately 6 kg, resulting in nearly 50% weight reduction compared with conventional steel roof panels. Experimental investigations demonstrate favorable mechanical properties including tensile strength, flexural strength, impact resistance, hardness, and interlaminar shear strength. The polyurethane foam core improves stiffness, thermal insulation, and energy absorption, while flax fibre reinforcement enhances vibration damping and
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
