Polypropylene Composites with Biochars from Miscanthus and Tomato Biomass – Part I: Thermal and Structural Properties

ABSTRACT

A study of biochar/polypropylene composites has been conducted to describe the influence of biochars on the supermolecular structure of PP. The first stage of the work described the influence of carbonization on the properties of carbon fillers (tomato and miscanthus). The biochar was added to the polymer matrix, and the composite samples were manufactured by extrusion and injection molding. The influence of the fillers was investigated using WAXS, hot-stage optical microscopy, PLM microscopy, FTIR and ASTM designation. There were showed the strong influence of the biochar fillers on the properties of polypropylene matrix in composite materials. Obtained composites were characterized by the satisfying properties.

摘要

对生物炭/聚丙烯复合材料进行了研究，以描述生物炭对聚丙烯超分子结构的影响. 工作的第一阶段描述了碳化对碳填料（番茄和芒属植物）性能的影响. 将生物炭添加到聚合物基体中，并通过挤出和注射成型制备复合材料样品. 使用WAXS、热台光学显微镜、PLM显微镜、FTIR和ASTM名称研究了填料的影响. 在复合材料中，生物炭填料对聚丙烯基体的性能有很大的影响. 所获得的复合材料具有令人满意的性能.

KEYWORDS:

• Isotactic polypropylene (iPP)
• polymer composites
• beta form of iPP
• biomass
• carbonization
• biochar

关键词:

• 全同立构聚丙烯(iPP), 聚合物复合材料, β形式的iPP, 生物量
• 碳化, 生物炭

Highlights

• Carbonization of plant material (tomato and miscanthus stalks).

• Examination of native filler properties and FTIR technique after the carbonization process, elemental analysis and iodine number.

• Fabrication of composites by extrusion and injection of isotactic polypropylene and carbonized plant fillers.

• Structural analysis of composites: DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), WAXS (Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering), and

• Microscopic observations of the effect of the addition of native and carbonized fibers on the crystallization of the matrix – Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM).

• Summary and analysis of the results obtained.

• Description of the conducted research and comparison of the results with data from the available literature.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Mrs. Klaudia Owczarzak.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical approval

We confirm that all the research meets ethical guidelines and adheres to the legal requirements of the study country. The research does not involve any human or animal welfare related issues.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science