Adeniyi Adewale George, Abdulkareem Sulyman A, Emenike Ebuka Chizitere, Abdelbacki Ashraf M M, Amoloye Mubarak A, Iwuozor Kingsley O, Ezzat Abdelrahman O, Eleregbe Favour O, Oyekunle Ifeoluwa Peter
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Ilorin, P. M. B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P. M. B. 5025, Awka, Nigeria.
BMC Chem. 2024 Dec 18;18(1):246. doi: 10.1186/s13065-024-01365-2.
This study investigates the chemical interactions and mechanical characteristics of composites made of polystyrene reinforced with biochar. Polystyrene-based resin (PBR) was combined with plantain peel-derived biochar in different weight ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%). The Brinell hardness test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to evaluate the properties of the composites. The results of the hardness test showed a non-monotonic pattern, with hardness first decreasing at low biochar loadings (10% and 20%), then significantly increasing at 30% biochar. At 40% biochar, the hardness then somewhat dropped, indicating that around 30% filler is the optimal biochar level for hardness. As the biochar loading increased, FTIR measurement showed that hydroxyl groups (-OH) were introduced and that the intensity of carbonyl groups (C = O) increased. According to SEM analysis, a uniform surface was found at lower biochar loadings, but at larger biochar contents, the surface became irregular and rough. In addition to providing insights into the chemical interactions at the interface between the biochar and the polymer matrix, these findings demonstrate the possibility of incorporating biochar to alter the mechanical properties of PBR.
本研究调查了用生物炭增强的聚苯乙烯复合材料的化学相互作用和力学特性。将聚苯乙烯基树脂（PBR）与来自车前草果皮的生物炭按不同重量比（10%、20%、30%和40%）混合。采用布氏硬度测试、傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和能量色散X射线光谱（EDS）来评估复合材料的性能。硬度测试结果呈现非单调模式，在低生物炭负载量（10%和20%）时硬度先降低，在生物炭含量为30%时显著增加。在生物炭含量为40%时，硬度又有所下降，这表明约30%的填料是实现硬度的最佳生物炭含量。随着生物炭负载量增加，FTIR测量显示引入了羟基（-OH）且羰基（C = O）的强度增加。根据SEM分析，在低生物炭负载量时表面均匀，但在生物炭含量较高时，表面变得不规则且粗糙。这些发现除了能深入了解生物炭与聚合物基体界面处的化学相互作用外，还证明了加入生物炭来改变PBR力学性能的可能性。
