Towards green carbon fibre manufacturing from waste cotton: a microstructural and physical property investigation

Abstract

Abstract. The work presents the usefulness of cotton fibre waste as a source of carbon fibre (CF) by pyrolysis. Different pyrolysis temperatures were studied to assess the surface and structural changes during carbonisation. The structural and surface modification of fibres during carbonisation was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Raman spectroscopy. Lowpressure plasma employed for surface functionalization treatment in presence of oxygen was conducted. The surface modification was analysed and compared by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle analysis. Carbon fibre structural strength was studied using nanoindentation. The carbon fibres before and after functionalization revealed a significant change in surface hydrophilicity. In nanoindentation, the maximum displacement of carbon fibre produced at 400°C is higher when compared to treatment of 600°C and 800°C, for identical applied load, revealing lower resistance to applied load, while the carbon fibre produced at 600°C has the least displacement, i.e. higher resistance to applied load. Enhancement of material strength (through resistance to applied load) after surface functionalization is evidenced for the case of carbon fibre produced at 400°C and no effect for carbon fibre (both plain and functionalized) produced at 800°C.

Effect of incorporation of microstructured carbonized cellulose on surface and mechanical properties of epoxy composites

“…Carbonized CFs showed a twisted rods shape [Figure ] with an average length ranging from 30 μm to 50 μm and an average diameter around 2–5 μm [Figure ]. As reported by Pravin et al ., some of CFs presented a hole that could collapse as shown in Figure creating a ribbon‐like structure. This phenomenon was not so massive and carbonized CFs could be reasonably assumed as rod‐like.…”

“…A promising case of study could be represented by the comparison of spheres and rods particles. As reported by Bartoli et al ., carbon spheres can be produced by pyrolytic treatment of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) while carbon rods can be obtained by the same process using wasted cotton fibers (CFs) . Additionally, these materials are both composed by cellulose and pyrolytic reactivity and biochar residual groups are the same using the same pyrolytic conditions …”

Towards Traditional Carbon Fillers: Biochar-Based Reinforced Plastic

“…Furthermore, cellulose templates could be used for the production of biochar fibres and balls using selected precursors. As a matter of fact, biochar produced from wasted cotton fibres could be recovered as carbon fibre shape showing a property enhancement of epoxy resin host matrix [60,61], while the one produced from cellulose nanocrystals could be recovered as micrometrics ball or nanometric needles [62].…”

A Review of Non-Soil Biochar Applications

“…Furthermore, biochar from pyrolyzed, wasted cotton fibers could be recovered in a carbon fiber shape that showed the property enhancement of an epoxy resin host matrix [306,307].…”