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Biorefinery I: Chemicals and Materials From
Thermo-Chemical Biomass Conversion and Related
Processes
Proceedings
2015
ELECTRICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF
DIFFERENT CARBON BASED POLYMER
COMPOSITES
Mauro Giorcelli
Politecnico di Torino
Aamer Abbas Khan
Politecnicoi di Torino
Patrizia Savi
Politecnico di Torino
Franco Berruti
ICFAR - Western University
Alberto Tagliaferro
Politecnico di Torino
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Recommended Citation
Mauro Giorcelli, Aamer Abbas Khan, Patrizia Savi, Franco Berruti, and Alberto Tagliaferro, "ELECTRICAL CHARACTERIZATION
OF DIFFERENT CARBON BASED POLYMER COMPOSITES" in "Biorefinery I: Chemicals and Materials From ThermoChemical Biomass Conversion and Related Processes", Nicolas Abatzoglou, Université de Sherbrooke, Canada Sascha Kersten,
University of Twente, The Netherlands Dietrich Meier, Thünen Institute of Wood Research, Germany Eds, ECI Symposium Series,
(2015). http://dc.engconfintl.org/biorefinery_I/10
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ELECTRICAL CHARACTERIZATION
OF DIFFERENT CARBON BASED
POLYMER COMPOSITES
Mauro Giorcelli, Aamer Abbas Khan,
Patrizia Savi, Franco Berruti, Alberto Tagliaferro
Biorefinery I: Chemicals and Materials from Thermo-Chemical Biomass Conversion and Related Processes
1
Outline
 Motivation
and Application
 Biochar as Carbon Filler
 Composite preparation
 Microwave characterization
 Results
 Comment and comparasion with CNTs
 Conclusions
2
Motivation and Application
Composite
Matrix
Polymer
Metals
Filler
Ceramics
Glass
Carbon
Organic
Metallic
3
Others
Motivation and Application
Electrical &
electronics
Energy
& power
Automotive
Aerospace
4
Biochar as Carbon filler by


Chemical decomposition of organic materials in
the absence of oxygen
Products:
- Gases (non-condensable vapors)
- Liquids (condensable vapors: bio-oil
- Solids (bio-char and ash)
5
Biochar as Carbon Filler

Advantage:
Low price
Recicled material
New opportunities
6
Composite preparation

Pulverize by blade mixer
7
Composite preparation
As it is
Fesem characterization (Zeiss supra 40)
8
Powder

Composite preparation
A crucial point to obtain good dispersion
Mixing procedure
Ultra turrax mixer
Low quantity material is enough
(Recently acquired)
Three roll mills mixer
Needs Not less 50 ml of material
9
Composite preparation
Comparison between different dispersion technique in case of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs)
10
Composite preparation
11
Microwave characterization
Permettivity measurements
The most common way to describe a system response to an
electro- magnetic wave is through its dielectric constant (also
called permittivity)
Permittivity is a complex quantity. Its real part describes the ability
to store energy while its imaginary part describes the ability to
dissipate energy
 = ’+ i ’’
 =  (f)
As electrical conductivity is related to energy dissipation a close
correlation exists




12
Microwave characterizations
A Network Analyzer (E8361A) + A commercial dielectric probe (Agilent 85070D)
Advantages:
 Frequency band 200 MHz – 20 GHz
 Fast response
 Samples of small dimensions
Drawback:
 Roughness and flatness of
the surface are critical
 Thick samples
SAMPLE
Ø = 2.2 cm
Sample thickness > 1.5 cm
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Results
Standard
Biochar
Activated Biochar (high surface area)
Comparison with CNTs
14
Results (real part)
15
Results (Conductivity, immaginary part)



16

Results (comparison with CNTs)
Real part
Conductivity
17
Conclusions

Low quantities of Biochar fillers have not effect on permittivity as CNTs

To obtan effect on permittivity we need to be more than 10 wt.%

Activated Biochar (high surface area) have more effect respect to no activated
Biochar

In order to have compared values with CNTs we need to arrive around 20 wt.%

Further investigation are need in particular to test mechanical properties.
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Thank you for your attention
[email protected]
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