ABSTRACT
The present study reports on the mechanochemical processing and characterisation studies of Si-based refractory compounds derived from sugarcane bagasse (SCB). SCB was preliminarily washed and sun-dried for 48 hr. 1 M HCl acid was used for the leaching of the SCB, before which carbothermal treatment was carried out in an enclosed, improvised crucible using a temperature sequence of 600–1000°C at a heating rate of 10°C/min. Fourier transmission infrared spectrometer (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) were used to characterise the reaction products. From the results obtained, the major functional groups indicated in the IR spectra are O-H, N-O, O-Si-O and Si-C. The carbothermal treatment showed the viability of producing an Si-based refractory compound (SBRC). There is a high population of SiC in the XRD pattern at 900°C, indicating that 700°C was not sufficient for the full transformation of the SiC phases. The results indicate the presence of unreacted carbon phase precipitates in the reaction product.
Acknowledgments
The authors appreciate the funding opportunity from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).