A comparative study on erosion behaviour of untreated and alkaline-treated biochar reinforced vinyl ester composites

Biochar-based composites are highly effective in enhancing polymeric characteristics. Biochar is an eco-friendly reinforcing material derived from organic waste, with unique properties that make it an extremely attractive option for industrial applications. Not only does the utilization of biochar-based composites improve mechanical properties, but it also significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the final product, making it an extremely promising avenue for sustainable, high-performance materials. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of biochar produced from both treated and untreated Anacardium occidentale nutshell materials. Cashew nut shells undergo baking, pyrolysis, and treatment with NaOH to create AONS biochar. The solution casting technique is used to make composites by mixing vinyl ester resin with varying concentrations of alkali-treated biochar to produce the final product. The study has conclusively identified two primary factors that affect the rate of erosion, namely the impingement angle and the erodent velocity. The study results show that an impingement angle of 30° and an erodent velocity of 78 m/s resulted in a rate of discharge of 2 g/min. Based on the results obtained, Alkali treated AONS Biochar composites that contain a 10% concentration exhibited the lowest rate of erosion in both treated and untreated processes. The treated biochar approach yielded significantly better results in reducing erosion rates compared to the untreated method.