Abstract
The augmented demands of textile materials over time have brought challenges in the disposal of substantial volumes of waste generated during the processing and end of life of such materials. Taking into consideration environmental safety due to discarding of textile waste, it becomes critical to recuperate useful products from such waste for economic reasons. The present work deals with the preparation of porous and electrically conductive activated carbon fabric by a novel single stage method of simultaneous carbonization and physical activation of Kevlar feedstock material procured from local industries, for effective electromagnetic (EM) shielding applications. The Kevlar fabric waste was directly carbonized under a layer of charcoal without any intermediate stabilization step at 800 °C, 1000 °C, and 1200 °C, with a heating rate of 300 °C/h and without any holding time. The physical and morphological properties of the activated carbon, influenced by carbonization process parameters, were characterized from EDX, X-ray diffraction, SEM analysis, and BET analysis. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity was analyzed. Finally, the potential application of the activated material for EM shielding effectiveness was analyzed at low (below 1.5 GHz) and high (2.45 GHz) frequencies. The phenomena of multiple internal reflections and absorption of electromagnetic radiations was found dominant in the case of activated carbon fabric produced at higher carbonization temperatures.
Highlights
The ever-pressing affairs on global warming and ecological complications persistently impact the rising awareness in societies of the importance of sustainability, circular economy, and recyclable/reusable products. [1,2,3]
The yield of activated carbon reduced with an increase in carbonization temperature, and 31% yield was obtained after 1200 ◦C carbonization
The Kevlar fibrous waste obtained from an industry was successfully converted into activated carbon by a simultaneous process of carbonization and physical activation in the presence of atmospheric air and CO2, using controlled thermal treatment in a high temperature furnace
Summary
The ever-pressing affairs on global warming and ecological complications persistently impact the rising awareness in societies of the importance of sustainability, circular economy, and recyclable/reusable products. [1,2,3]. With the increasing demand for textiles, the amount of waste generated during the processing and end of life of textile materials has significantly increased, adding to the challenges encountered due to its disposal thereof. Tons of textile waste is produced annually from textile industries. The textile waste generated by European Union (EU) countries equates to approximately 16.5 million tons annually [4]. A vast amount of post-consumer textile waste is thrown into landfills or is incinerated and left to decompose, usually releasing methane, among other toxic fumes, which contributes in the greenhouse effect of global warming. Textile wastes from specific categories of materials, that are expensive and divergent, retains its characteristic properties and, due to economic and ecological reasons, it is essential to pave the way to potentially reuse/recycle the same [5,6,7]. The typical high value-added products obtained from such wastes are nanoparticles, nanocomposites activated carbon, and fillers for reinforcements, to mention a few
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