A study on the hybrid polystyrene composite filled with elephant-grass-biochar and doped-aluminium-content

This study aimed to investigate the crystallographic, functional group and microstructural analysis of elephant grass biochar reinforced hybrid polystyrene composite doped with aluminium. The composites were prepared by the mixing and hand-layup technique. Composites were characterised by x-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. It was observed that crystallographic properties of the composite were improved by aluminium doping. Crystallite size and d-spacing were found to decrease from 6.3542 to 5.2453 nm and 3.183 to 2.362 Å respectively due to 8% aluminium doping. Functional group analysis revealed that doping affected interactions between biochar and polystyrene resin. Microstructural analysis revealed that dispersion was optimal at 2% doping and interfacial adhesion was optimal at 8% doping.