Production of high-density polyethylene biocomposites from rice husk biochar: Effects of varying pyrolysis temperature

Qingfa Zhang, Donghong Zhang, Wenyu Lu, Muhammad Usman Khan, Hang Xu, Weiming Yi, Hanwu Lei, Erguang Huo, Moriko Qian, Yunfeng Zhao, Rongge Zou

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

The novelty of this study is to explore the effect of temperature varied biochar on the properties of biochar/polymers composites. Rice husk biochar (RB) samples were prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures and injection molding was used to prepare RB/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites. Additionally, ultimate analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), pore structure characteristics, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile properties, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used to characterize these RB and RB/HDPE composites samples. The results validated that RB obtained at 600 °C showed the highest carbon content, the most complete pore structure, and the largest specific surface area. Moreover, the thermal studies revealed that the addition of RB improved the thermal stability of HDPE. The best tensile strength (26.25 MPa) and Young's modulus (1.87 GPa) were obtained in 500 °C RB/HDPE composites and 600 °C RB/HDPE composites due to their good physical/mechanical interlocking structures shown in SEM. DMA revealed that the stiffness, elasticity, creep resistance and stress relaxation of the composites were improved by the addition of RB. The utilization of temperature varied biochars in biocomposites is important to manage wastes and optimize the properties of biocomposites in terms of reducing production cost and ensuring environmental safety.

Original languageEnglish
Article number139910
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume738
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 10 2020
Externally publishedYes

Funding

The authors appreciate that this work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province of China (No. ZR2019MEE036 ); the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant (Nos. 2016-67021-24533 , and 2014-38502-22598 ) from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture ; the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2018YFD1101001 ); the distinguished expert of Taishan Scholars Shandong Province project and the Higher Education Superior Discipline Team Training Program of Shandong Province .

Keywords

  • Biocomposites
  • Formulation optimization
  • Properties regulation
  • Temperature varied biochars

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