US-Based Hemp Fiber Composites
Research Goal
To develop high-performance, partially bio-based composite materials using hemp fibers sourced and processed within the United States, with an emphasis on improving structural efficiency, material consistency, and scalability for advanced engineering applications.
Project Description
This project investigates advanced fiber placement and textile-based manufacturing strategies to enhance load transfer, fiber alignment, and architectural control in hemp fiber–reinforced composites. Programmable fiber and textile fabrication techniques are used to tailor reinforcement architectures and integrate hemp fibers into composite preforms with improved repeatability and design flexibility. Material processing, mechanical performance, and structure–property relationships are systematically evaluated to establish pathways toward scalable composite manufacturing using US-based natural fibers.
Impact
By enabling greater control over fiber placement and composite architecture, this research expands the potential of hemp fiber as a viable reinforcement for high-value composite applications. The outcomes support the development of renewable, domestically sourced composite materials with reduced impact, offering new opportunities for adoption in automotive, construction, infrastructure, and other performance-driven industries seeking natural alternatives to conventional fiber reinforcements.
Project Progress
Project Outputs
Discover the tangible outcomes and impact of this project.
Rong Yin
NC State University
Assistant Professor, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State University
Rong Yin’s research connects textile engineering to areas of materials science including soft robotics, flexible actuators, wearable electronics, and smart structures. At NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles, his group works across fiber-based composites, advanced spinning technologies, and the modeling and prediction of textile processes, with a growing focus on hemp fiber characterization and processing.
His work has attracted funding from NSF, USDA, the US Navy, DARPA, and AFFOA, reflecting both applied and fundamental research. The group has published more than 50 papers in peer-reviewed international journals.
Beyond the lab, Yin contributes to the field through editorial and standards work. He serves on the youth editorial board of Advanced Fiber Materials, as a guest editor for Actuators and Frontiers in Chemistry, and as a reviewer for more than 40 international journals. He is also a subcommittee member of ASTM D37.07 Hemp Fiber Testing Standards and consults with industry partners.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Textile Sciences and Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2017
- Master of Engineering (MEng), Mechanical Engineering, Donghua University, 2011
- Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Normal University, 2008
