Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Sugarcane Bagasse Pyrolyzed Biochar Reinforced Polyvinyl Alcohol Biocomposite Films

Abstract

Biochar obtained from the oxygen-deficient thermochemical processing of organic wastes is considered to be an effective reinforcing agent in biocomposite development. In the present research, biocomposite film was prepared using sugarcane bagasse pyrolyzed biochar and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and its electrical and mechanical properties were assessed. The biocomposite films were produced by varying content (5 wt.%, 8 wt.% and 12 wt.%) of the biochar produced at 400 °C, 600 °C, 800 °C and 1000 °C and characterized using X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The experimental findings revealed that biochar produced at a higher pyrolyzing temperature could significantly improve the electrical conductance of the biocomposite film. A maximum electrical conductance of 7.67 × 10−2 S was observed for 12 wt.% addition of biochar produced at 1000 °C. A trend of improvement in the electrical properties of the biocomposite films suggested a threshold wt.% of the biochar needed to make a continuous conductive network across the biocomposite film. Rapid degradation of tensile strength was observed with an increasing level of biochar dosage. The lowest tensile strength 3.12 MPa was recorded for the film with 12 wt.% of biochar produced at 800 °C. Pyrolyzing temperature showed a minor impact on the mechanical strength of the biocomposite. The prepared biocomposites could be used as an electrically conductive layer in electronic devices.

Prospects and problems in the development of biochar-filled plastic composites: a review

“…Many studies have investigated the effect of the BC content as an electrically conductive additive in BC-filled plastic composites. Ahmed et al [114] reported that a minimum BC content is required to create a conductive continuous network across the composite films. As per their study, the increment of the BC content from 5 wt.% to 8 wt.% and 12 wt.% increased the conductance by approximately three and four times, respectively.…”

“…This could be due to the increase in the porosity of the BC as observed from the surface morphology of the BCs and the formation of more carbon-carbon bonds that promoted the stabilization of the porous architecture as the pyrolytic temperature increased from 400 • C to 1000 • C. These pores translate to binding sites between the BC and the epoxy resin [86]. Ahmed et al [114] and Das et al [61] confirmed in their studies that BC produced at a higher pyrolyzing temperature significantly improves the electrical conductance of the composites.…”

“…In regards to the mechanical properties of the composites, Ahmed et al [114] noted that the pyrolyzing temperature showed a minor impact on the mechanical strength of the composites. However, the tensile properties of composites with higher temperature pyrolyzed BC are significantly better than those with lower temperature pyrolyzed BC [61,117].…”

Experimental investigation on mechanical properties of novel polymer hybrid composite with reinforcement of banana fiber and sugarcane bagasse powder

“…5,18 Sugarcane bagasse has a lot of cellulose and lignin, which are the main things that make it suitable for filler material. 19 Bagasse is a fibrous by product of the sugarcane industry that is often used to make animal feed, enzymes, paper, and biofuel. 20 Sugarcane bagasse is a good cellulose fiber source for making cellulose nanocrystals because it has a lot of cellulose (40%–50%).…”