Crystallographic, Functional Group and Microstructural Properties of Oil Palm Biochar Reinforced Hybrid Polystyrene Composite Doped with Aluminium

Polymer composites have recently received a considerable amount of scientific and technological interest, because their properties can be properly controlled, choosing the adequate doped particles, their size and concentrations, and the synthesis conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the crystallographic, functional group and microstructural analysis of oil palm biochar-reinforced hybrid polystyrene composite doped with aluminium. The composites were characterised by X-ray Diffractometry (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The composite was prepared by hand-layup technique at room temperature (25 +/- 2 degrees C) and cured for 7 days. The study revealed that the addition of aluminium as dopant induced sharp peaks at 38 degrees, 40 degrees and 68 degrees, which are suggestive of crystalline properties of the hybrid composite. The changing/shifting FTIR peaks and the disappearance and reappearance of different peaks with change in aluminium doping were due to chemical interactions between the biochar filler and the aluminium dopant. The analysis suggested that the composites are likely to be susceptible to moisture due to the presence of strong and broad polar - OH groups from the spectra. Microstructural analysis showed that the interfacial adhesion of the composite increased as the aluminium composition increased.