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Aboughaly M, Babaei-Ghazvini A, Dhar P, Patel R, Acharya B. Enhancing the Potential of Polymer Composites Using Biochar as a Filler: A Review. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:3981. [PMID: 37836030 PMCID: PMC10575138 DOI: 10.3390/polym15193981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This article discusses the scope biochar's uses; biochar is a sustainable organic material, rich in carbon, that can be synthesized from various types of biomass feedstock using thermochemical reactions such as pyrolysis or carbonization. Biochar is an eco-friendly filler material that can enhance polymer composites' mechanical, thermal, and electrical performances. In comparison to three inorganic fillers, namely carbon black, carbon nanotubes (CNT), and carbon filaments, this paper explores the optimal operating conditions for regulating biochar's physical characteristics, including pore size, macro- and microporosity, and mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Additionally, this article presents a comparative analysis of biochar yield from various thermochemical processes. Moreover, the review examines how the surface functionality, surface area, and particle size of biochar can influence its mechanical and electrical performance as a filler material in polymer composites at different biochar loads. The study showcases the outstanding properties of biochar and recommends optimal loads that can improve the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of polymer composites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Bishnu Acharya
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada; (M.A.); (A.B.-G.); (P.D.); (R.P.)
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Zecchi S, Ruscillo F, Cristoforo G, Bartoli M, Loebsack G, Kang K, Piatti E, Torsello D, Ghigo G, Gerbaldo R, Giorcelli M, Berruti F, Tagliaferro A. Effect of Red Mud Addition on Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Hemp-Derived-Biochar-Containing Epoxy Composites. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:429. [PMID: 36838129 PMCID: PMC9960558 DOI: 10.3390/mi14020429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Waste stream valorization is a difficult task where the economic and environmental issues must be balanced. The use of complex metal-rich waste such as red mud is challenging due to the wide variety of metal oxides present such as iron, aluminum, and titanium. The simple separation of each metal is not economically feasible, so alternative routes must be implemented. In this study, we investigated the use of red mud mixed with hemp waste to produce biochar with high conductivity and good magnetic properties induced by the reduction of the metal oxides present in the red mud through carbothermal processes occurring during the co-pyrolysis. The resulting biochar enriched with thermally-reduced red mud is used for the preparation of epoxy-based composites that are tested for electric and magnetic properties. The electric properties are investigated under DC (direct current) regime with or without pressure applied and under AC (alternating current) in a frequency range from 0.5 up to 16 GHz. The magnetic measurements show the effective tailoring of hemp-derived biochar with magnetic structures during the co-pyrolytic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Zecchi
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Ruscillo
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cristoforo
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| | - Mattia Bartoli
- Center for Sustainable Future Technologies, Italian Institute of Technology, Via Livorno 60, 10144 Torino, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), Via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Griffin Loebsack
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, UK
| | - Kang Kang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, UK
| | - Erik Piatti
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
| | - Daniele Torsello
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sez. Torino, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Gianluca Ghigo
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sez. Torino, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Roberto Gerbaldo
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sez. Torino, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Mauro Giorcelli
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), Via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Franco Berruti
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, UK
| | - Alberto Tagliaferro
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), Via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy
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Bartoli M, Torsello D, Piatti E, Giorcelli M, Sparavigna AC, Rovere M, Ghigo G, Tagliaferro A. Pressure-Responsive Conductive Poly(vinyl alcohol) Composites Containing Waste Cotton Fibers Biochar. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13010125. [PMID: 35056291 PMCID: PMC8781896 DOI: 10.3390/mi13010125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The development of responsive composite materials is among the most interesting challenges in contemporary material science and technology. Nevertheless, the use of highly expensive nanostructured fillers has slowed down the spread of these smart materials in several key productive sectors. Here, we propose a new piezoresistive PVA composite containing a cheap, conductive, waste-derived, cotton biochar. We evaluated the electromagnetic properties of the composites under both AC and DC regimes and as a function of applied pressure, showing promisingly high conductivity values by using over 20 wt.% filler loading. We also measured the conductivity of the waste cotton biochar from 20 K up to 350 K observing, for the first time, hopping charge transport in biochar materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Bartoli
- Center for Sustainable Future Technologies—CSFT@POLITO, Via Livorno 60, 10144 Torino, Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), Via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Florence, Italy; (M.G.); (M.R.)
- Correspondence: (M.B.); (A.T.); Tel.: +39-0110904326 (M.B.); +39-0110907347 (A.T.)
| | - Daniele Torsello
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy; (D.T.); (E.P.); (A.C.S.); (G.G.)
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sez. Torino, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Erik Piatti
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy; (D.T.); (E.P.); (A.C.S.); (G.G.)
| | - Mauro Giorcelli
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), Via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Florence, Italy; (M.G.); (M.R.)
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy; (D.T.); (E.P.); (A.C.S.); (G.G.)
| | - Amelia Carolina Sparavigna
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy; (D.T.); (E.P.); (A.C.S.); (G.G.)
| | - Massimo Rovere
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), Via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Florence, Italy; (M.G.); (M.R.)
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy; (D.T.); (E.P.); (A.C.S.); (G.G.)
| | - Gianluca Ghigo
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy; (D.T.); (E.P.); (A.C.S.); (G.G.)
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sez. Torino, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Alberto Tagliaferro
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), Via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Florence, Italy; (M.G.); (M.R.)
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy; (D.T.); (E.P.); (A.C.S.); (G.G.)
- Faculty of Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
- Correspondence: (M.B.); (A.T.); Tel.: +39-0110904326 (M.B.); +39-0110907347 (A.T.)
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