Agriculture waste derived biochar based polyvinyl alcohol composites for structural applications

Abstract

The sustainable development of high-performance materials from renewable resources has gained substantial attention in recent years. In this study, biochar was synthesized from agricultural waste i.e. bamboo waste (WBB) via a green route and subsequently functionalized with ammonium persulfate (APS) to improve dispersion and interfacial bonding. The functionalized bamboo waste biochar was incorporated into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to fabricate nanocomposites with enhanced structural properties. Comprehensive characterization was carried out using FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy to confirm successful functionalization and uniform distribution of WBB within the PVA matrix. Mechanical testing revealed significant improvements in tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and toughness, demonstrating the reinforcing effect of APS-functionalized waste bamboo biochar (WBFB). Thermal stability analysis confirmed enhanced resistance to degradation, further validating the material’s suitability for engineering applications. The results revealed that the incorporation of WBFB significantly enhanced the performance of PVA. At an optimal biochar loading of 5 wt%, tensile strength increased by approximately 62.43% compared to pure PVA and Young’s modulus increased from 3088 MPa (pure PVA) to 7496 MPa, respectively. Thermal stability also increased from 325.70 °C (T_50%) for pure PVA to 384.81 °C (T_50%) for the 5% biochar functionalized composite. DSC analysis revealed enhancement in the thermal characteristics T_m and T_c by 8.79 °C and 13.02 °C at an optimal biochar loading of 5 wt%. The synergistic combination of bamboo waste derived biochar and PVA establishes a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and mechanically robust nanocomposite with strong potential for use in advanced structural and sustainable material applications.