Mechanical and morphological analyses of flamboyant seed pod biochar/aluminium filings reinforced hybrid polystyrene composite

摘要

Electrical conductivity can be improved in polymer composites by adding reinforcement components like metallic particles and/or high carbon-containing materials. In this study, highly conductive composites were produced from waste particles by reinforcing waste polystyrene with Aluminium powder and flamboyant seed (Delonix regia) pod-derived biochar. The composites were made using the mixing and hand layup method, and they were allowed to cure for 7 days at room temperature (25 degrees C). The composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the Rockwell hardness test, and the Izod impact test. The SEM analysis generally shows a good interaction between the matrix and the filler as more penetration of the matrix was allowed into the highly porous structures of the biochar and aluminium. The polystyrene resin was shown to become less brittle when biochar and Aluminium were added, enhancing its toughness and capacity to absorb energy. Aluminium was found to be the main filler contributing to the material's roughness, as the roughness decreased as the Aluminium content increased. This study provided insights on the production of valuable products from waste resources.