Betel leaf-derived carbon nano-sphere/renewable resourced polyurethane coatings for high-performance applications

Present study focuses on the development of sustainable green-sourced carbon nano-sphere (CNSp) from Betel Leaf by thermal decomposition method for high-performance Polyurethane coating. The obtained carbon black was then functionalized with acid solution. FTIR analysis confirms the presence of carboxyl group. The graphitic domain present in the nano-sphere were found using XRD and Raman spectroscopy. TEM analysis clearly shows the mono-dispersed sized nano-spheres of about ~ 40 nm. The nano-sphere was further incorporated into castor oil based Polyurethane coatings. The nanoscale incorporation of the CNSp (0.2 and 0.5%) into the PU shows good increment in the resultant mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of the polyurethane/carbon nano-sphere hybrid in comparison to the virgin PU film. The DMTA result shows an increase in the storage modulus from 3730 to 4454 MPa. Moreover, an accretion in the tensile strength was observed from 5.55 to 9.77 MPa Overall increments of 76.03% and good surface roughness observed by SEM analysis.