Abstract: Carbon containing epoxy resins are used for a wide number of applications, while conductive composites represent a very interesting field due to their applications as sensors. The main drawbacks of high performances carbon fillers (i.e. CNT, graphene) are their high cost and the difficulty of achieving homogeneous dispersion. Biochar is a carbon filler derived from pyrolyzed biomasses and can represent a viable alternative to such materials due to its low cost, large availability and easiness to be dispersed in composites. We used biochar as a filler in epoxy resin to successfully improve mechanical [1] and electrical [2] properties of composites. Biochar can be obtained from different feedstock, and this allows to tune the composite properties. We will review the influence of different Biochar types for the tailored enhancement of brittleness and/or ductility of an epoxy-based composite proving the relationship between biochar morphology and composites mechanical properties [3]. We will highlight that by properly selecting the biochar feedstock and the pyrolysis parameters the electrical conductivity of the biochar can be tuned. Using an appropriate set of pyrolysis parameters, electrical conductivities comparable to those of commercial CNTs and carbon black can be obtained. We used such biochar as fillers to obtain polymer composites having high electrical conductivity without harming their mechanical properties [2]. Biochar based composites have a higher electrical conductivity as well as higher Young modulus and ultimate tensile strength than carbon black based composites. We will thoroughly discuss the perspectives of biochar based composites, with an eye also to economic feasibility and composites production process.

References
[1] Bartoli, M., Rosso, C., Giorcelli, M., Rovere, M., Jagdale, P., Tagliaferro, A., Chae. M., Bressler, D. C. (2019). Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 48896.
[2] Giorcelli, M., & Bartoli, M. (2019). Polymers, 11(12), 1916.), 3109.
[3] Bartoli, M., Giorcelli, M., Rosso, C., Rovere, M., Jagdale, P., Tagliaferro, A. (2019). Applied Sciences, 9(15)

Keywords: Polymer composites, Biochar, electrical conductivity, feedstocks.

Biography: Alberto Tagliaferro holds a Master Degree in Nuclear Engineering and a PhD in Physics. He is an Associate Professor of Physics of Materials. He is an expert in carbon materials, ranging from amorphous carbons to carbon dots. He has been working on several applications of carbon materials and carbon-based composites, ranging from electrical to electrochemical, from mechanical to theragnostic. He is member of several Editorial Boards of International Journals. He is Chair of the Education Committee of IUVSTA. Among his research results the following can be quoted: (i) development of a brand new line-shape for the analysis of Raman signals, (ii) development of green carbon based composites, (iii) use of carbon dots for therapeutics, (iv) development of anno-oxides based biosensors