Radhika Mandala

This study intended to investigate the impact of two distinct shaping methods, Injection molding and pellet additive manufacturing, on tensile and thermal properties of PLA based materials. It included comparisons of neat PLA and PLA reinforced with carbon nanoparticles derived from groundnut shells (GNSC) via pyrolysis at 800°C. These nanoparticles were characterized using FTIR, XRD, FESEM, and EDX analyses to assess their carbon content, morphology, and structure. The synthesized carbon was used as a reinforcement filler in the PLA matrix and biobased polymer nanocomposites were prepared by pellet 3D printing and injection molding. The mechanical and thermal characteristics of PLA/GNSC composite specimens with 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 wt% of GNSC nanoparticles were compared. Reinforcing PLA with GNSC nanoparticles improved tensile properties in both shaping techniques. The PLA/GNSC_0.5 exhibited the greatest tensile strength, measuring 58.61 MPa for injection molded samples and 53.05 MPa for 3D printed samples, representing a 50% enhancement compared with neat PLA. The tensile modulus was also highest for PLA/GNSC_0.5, measuring 1.24 GPa for injection molded samples and 1.21 GPa for 3D printed samples, representing an improvement of 14% compared with neat PLA. The tensile characteristics showed a modest increase in tensile strength (9-13%) and a slight improvement in tensile modulus (2-3%) for injection molded samples compared to 3D printed samples. The thermal properties showed no substantial variation between the two shaping methods. These findings highlight the effectiveness of GNSC nanoparticles in enhancing the mechanical and thermal performance of PLA composites, regardless of the shaping technique.

Biochar, a carbon‐rich biomass material has emerged as promising reinforcement and offers versatile applications and potential benefits in various fields, especially in fused deposition modeling (FDM). This study focuses on the development and characterization of groundnut shell‐derived biocarbon (GNSC) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) filaments for FDM. The GNSC was synthesized through pyrolysis using a tubular furnace at temperatures 700, 800, and 900°C. Synthesized carbon was characterized using Raman spectroscopy, XRD, and SEM analysis. The results showed that the synthesized carbon particles were graphitic, spherical, and nanosized with an average diameter of 40 nm. The preferred biocarbon material, GNSC800 was selected for its high carbon content (98.25%) observed through EDX analysis. Composite filaments were produced with different GNSC800 loadings of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75% using solvent casting and extrusion techniques. Thermal stability was evaluated using TGA and DSC, which showed improved properties with the addition of biocarbon. The mechanical properties and electrical conductivity were enhanced with the inclusion of biocarbon. The data were also validated using ANOVA and Tukey's test. Filament with the 0.5 wt% loading showed the most favorable thermomechanical properties exhibiting a 39.8% increase in tensile strength and a 17.5% improvement in tensile modulus.

Peanut-shell-based polymer composites have gained significant attention as sustainable and cost-effective materials with potential applications as food packaging films, ceiling tiles, insulation panels, supercapacitors, and electrodes in various industries like the packaging industry, construction, furniture, and electronics. This review article presents a systematic roadmap of the mechanical properties of peanut-shell-based polymer composites, analyzing the influence of factors such as filler content, surface modification techniques, interfacial adhesion, and processing methods. Through an extensive literature review, we highlight the mechanical properties of peanut-shell-based polymer composites. Furthermore, challenges and ongoing research efforts in this field are discussed. This comprehensive review provides valuable insights for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers, promoting the development and utilization of peanut-shell-based polymer composites for various applications.

Tea waste is inexpensive and is plenteously available around the world especially in south Asian countries. The filtered tea powder waste acts as a carbonaceous source which can be utilized for variety of applications. Calcination of tea powder at 300°C and 400°C resulted in carbon powder which is further characterized using Raman Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The D and G bands of Raman spectroscopy revealed the presence of graphitic planes in the structure. The morphology of synthesized carbon suggested that synthesized carbon has porous structure. The porous structure of the carbon makes it widely applicable in water filtration applications. Furthermore, the synthesized carbon can be used as filler material for 3D printable filaments.