Carbon composite foams from the wasted banana leaf for EMI shielding and thermal insulation

Abstract

Low-density fire-resistant materials with high EMI shielding effectiveness and low thermal conductivity are extremely important in aerospace and defence applications. Utilization of agricultural residues for achieving this reduces CO2 emission as well as produces wealth for the farmers. Herein, a fibre extracted from the wasted matured banana leaf by a simple chopping and grinding using a mixture-grinder is used for the preparation of carbon composite foams. The banana leaf fibres dispersed in sucrose solution are consolidated by filter-pressing followed by freeze drying to produce banana leaf fibre-sucrose composites. The carbon produced from sucrose during carbonization binds the carbonized banana leaf fibre to produce the carbon composite foams. The XRD pattern and Raman analysis indicated the turbostratic nature of the carbon, and XPS analysis shows the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups. The textural property measurement and TEM analysis indicated the presence of micro and meso pores in the carbon composite foams. The foam density (0.14–0.28 g cm−3), compressive strength (0.14–0.88 MPa), electrical conductivity (3.7–8.7 S m−1), and thermal conductivity (0.095–0.144 W m-1 K−1) of the carbon composite foams increases with an increase in sucrose solution concentration (300–700 g L−1). The carbon composite foams exhibit a reflection-dominated EMI shielding with high total shielding effectiveness in the range of 48.3–77.5 dB. The multiple internal reflections within a range of macropores available in the carbon composite foams, leading to enhanced absorption, are responsible for the excellent EMI shielding characteristics.