Production, Characterization Physical, Chemical, and Structural Analysis of Biochar Fines for Bio-Reinforcement in Composite Materials
Josinaldo de Oliveira Dias, Amanda Oliveira da Conceição, Fabíola Martins Delatorre, Paula Siqueira
Abstract
Several polymeric compounds are obtained from synthetic organic solids containing petrochemical derivatives. Biochar fines are considered waste and an alternative bio-reinforcement in composite materials, potentially serving as a possible substitute for non-renewable polymers based on petrochemical derivatives. In this context, the present study focuses on analyzing the properties of biochar fines obtained from the pyrolysis of Eucalyptus sp. biomass, aiming to support the use of this waste in the fabrication of a composite using biochar as a bio-reinforcement. The biochar was produced through pyrolysis in a muffle furnace at a final temperature of 800 °C, with a heating rate of 5 °C min−1 and a residence time of 60 min. The characterization of the obtained fines involved proximate analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that the material has a high fixed carbon content, high density, and good thermal resistance, making it stand out for use in composites.