@Article{jrm.2025.02025-0017,
AUTHOR = {Nila Cecília Faria Lopes Medeiros, Gisele Amaral-Labat, Leonardo Iusuti de Medeiros, Alan Fernando Ney Boss, Beatriz Carvalho da Silva Fonseca, Manuella Gobbo de Castro Munhoz, Guilherme F. B. Lenz e Silva, Mauricio Ribeiro Baldan, Flavia Lega Braghiroli},
TITLE = {Optimizing Activation Temperature of Sustainable Porous Materials Derived from Forestry Residues: Applications in Radar-Absorbing Technologies},
JOURNAL = {Journal of Renewable Materials},
VOLUME = {13},
YEAR = {2025},
NUMBER = {6},
PAGES = {1021--1042},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/jrm/v13n6/62397},
ISSN = {2164-6341},
ABSTRACT = {Biochar, a carbon-rich material derived from the thermochemical conversion of biomass under oxygen-free conditions, has emerged as a sustainable resource for radar-absorbing technologies. This study explores the production of activated biochars from end-of-life wood panels using a scalable and sustainable physical activation method with CO<sub>2</sub> at different temperatures, avoiding the extensive use of corrosive chemicals and complex procedures associated with chemical or vacuum activation. Compared to conventional chemically or vacuum-activated biochars, the physically activated biochar demonstrated competitive performance while minimizing environmental impact, operational complexity, and energy consumption. Furthermore, activation at 750°C reduces energy consumption by 14% and 28% compared to activations at 850°C and 950°C, respectively, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of this method for large-scale applications. The composite with 15% of biochar embedded in silicon rubber presented good electromagnetic performance, achieving a measured reflection loss (RL) of −37.2 dB at 11.3 GHz with an 8.4 mm thickness and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 1.25 GHz. These results highlight the potential of biochar-silicone rubber composites as flexible radar-absorbing materials (RAMs) for applications in electromagnetic shielding, anechoic chambers, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This study also shows the importance of forestry residues as sustainable precursors for producing low-cost porous carbon materials, aligning with circular economy principles and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This work establishes a framework for scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable biochar production, addressing critical challenges in electromagnetic interference (EMI) mitigation and advancing the global adoption of green technologies.},
DOI = {10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0017}
}