Optimised synthesis of stainless steel fibre-entrapped activated carbon composites using response surface methodology

Abstract

Stainless steel fibre-entrapped activated carbon composites (SFEACs) can enhance mass and heat transfer processes by entrapping activated carbon particles with well-developed pore structures, but the activated carbon adhesion ability and mechanical strength are poor. In this paper, response surface methodology was used to optimise the synthesis parameters of SFEACs. Using optimized synthesis conditions with sintering temperature of 1120 °C, particle size of 100–120 mesh and carbon to fibre ratio of 1.98, the activated carbon reached a high loading rate of 62.02 %. The rate of carbon loss by severe vibration was only 2.28 % under these conditions, with a tensile strength of 0.31 MPa and shear strength up to 0.035 MPa.