Processing and structural characterization of Si-based carbothermal derivatives of bamboo leaf

Sustainable use of agro-wastes has attracted interest from researchers owing to their rich silica content; which makes them potential materials in the production of silicon carbide (SiC). Conventional processing methods such as Acheson, plasma, microwave plasma discharge and chemical vapor deposition are quite energy demanding and expensive to sustain by most third world economies (thus limiting the capacity for local production of SiC in these nations). In the present study, the viability of producing SiC and other Si-based compounds using bamboo leaves and carbothermal treatment processing schedule was investigated. Bamboo leaves (BL) was used as starting material in a single stage processing route to produce Si-based refractory compounds via carbothermal treatment. The processing was carried out in a modified conventional muffle furnace at temperatures windows (900-1900 ^oC) at 10 ^oC/min heating rate in a controlled atmosphere. The functional groups of the Si-based refractory compounds was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The crystalline and amorphous phases were identified by X-ray Diffractometer (XRD) while the morphological features of the Si-based refractory compounds was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was observed that the major functional groups present after carbothermal treatment of the bamboo leaves are Si-O-Si and Si-C groups. The yield of SiC polytypes was observed to be between 5-10 wt.% while other phases in the reaction products are mainly polytypes of silica. The carbothermal treatment explored showed evidence of viability for production of Si-based refractory compounds which can serve as reinforcement in the development of metal matrix composites.