The effect of alumina surface activity on the properties of lignocellulose/pitch-Al2O3 composites

Lignocellulose–pitch-based composites carbonized at 1000 °C were easily prepared by blending lignocellulose with pretreated pitch in a proportion of 50:50 wt.%. The pretreatment of the pitch was carried out by thermal treatment at temperatures of 250 and 350 °C, both in the absence and in the presence of 10 wt.% of alumina of different surface activities (acid, neutral and basic). The structural and mechanical properties of the composites, evaluated by means of density/porosity determinations, optical microscopy and flexural strength, were found to be enhanced by the presence of alumina. The effects of the addition of alumina in the composite were evaluated by means of thermogravimetric analyses. The results indicate that alumina surface activity plays an important role in the interactions between the composite components. Neutral alumina has the greatest effect during the pretreatment, while acid alumina favors lignocellulose–pitch interactions during the processing of the composite. These effects are more pronounced when the pretreatment is performed at 350 °C. Lignocellulose–pitch-based composites with a water density of ∼1.75 g cm−3, a porosity of ∼30 vol.% and a flexural strength of ∼30 MPa can be obtained when the pitch is pretreated in the presence of neutral alumina.