A novel approach to utilize waste carbon as reinforcement in thermoset composite

Abstract

Carbon black is produced from waste wood apple shell (WAS) material using pyrolysis at various carbonization temperatures (400 ℃ and 600 ℃) and used as reinforcement in thermoset polymer composite. The composites were prepared at 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt% filler loadings. The characterization of shell particles has been done through proximate, ultimate, and energy dispersive spectroscopy analyses. Tensile, flexural, and hardness tests were performed at different filler loadings. The results indicated that the strength of the polymer composite increased as filler loading increased to some extent and hardness property of the carbon black composite gives better result as compared to neat polymer composite. However, the filler–matrix bonding from tensile and flexural load was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.