Scavuzzo, et al (2024) Miscanthus-Derived BiocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More as a Platform for the Production of Fillers for the Improvement of Mechanical and Electromagnetic Properties of Epoxy Composites. Carbon. https://doi.org/10.3390/c10030081

Miscanthus-derived biochar is showing promise as a versatile filler to improve the mechanical and electromagnetic properties of epoxy composites. In recent research, biochar was annealed at 800°C and used both in its pure form and combined with iron-rich hybrid fillers. These biochar-based composites have demonstrated significant enhancements in mechanical performance, especially at optimal filler concentrations.

At 20% biochar loading, epoxy composites exhibited a 27% increase in Young’s modulus, reaching 1.4 GPa, while tensile strength saw improvements at lower filler concentrations (peaking at 30.3 MPa with 10% filler). However, higher filler loadings resulted in diminished tensile strength and elongation, indicating a trade-off between filler content and flexibility. Toughness was maximized with just 5% biochar, showing a value of 0.58 MJ/m³.

Electromagnetic tests revealed that biochar-based fillers maintained predominantly dielectric behavior, with conductivity increasing at higher filler loadings. This positions biochar as a useful component in applications requiring both mechanical reinforcement and electromagnetic properties, such as in structural and electronic materials.

These findings underscore biochar’s potential as a sustainable and effective filler for enhancing the performance of epoxy composites, with applications ranging from construction to electromagnetic shielding. Further optimization of filler content can unlock additional performance benefits tailored to specific industrial needs.