Effect of carbonization process on the microstructure and carbon material ordering of cotton spunlace nonwoven fabric

EDN: https://elibrary.ru/PWXMFM

Abstract

Using cotton spunlace nonwoven fabric with a grammage of 60 g/m² and 8 mesh apertures as the raw material, this study systematically investigated the effects of carbonization temperature (400 ℃, 500 ℃, 600 ℃, 700 ℃) and carbonization time (1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h) on its microstructure and carbon material ordering. The phase composition, morphological characteristics, and chemical bond changes of the samples before and after carbonization were characterized using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show that as the carbonization temperature increases, the intensity ratio of disordered carbon to ordered carbon (ID/IG) significantly increases from 1.57 at 400 ℃ to 2.78 at 600 ℃. However, at 700 ℃, the structural stability of the material deteriorates, which is unfavorable for subsequent applications. Under the condition of 600 ℃, the ID/IG value first increases and then decreases with extended holding time, reaching a maximum of 2.78 at 2 h. SEM images reveal that the carbonized samples still retain a fibrous intertwined structure. FTIR confirms the disappearance of the cellulose hydroxyl peak (3500–3300 cm⁻¹) and a significant weakening of the characteristic peaks of C–O and CH₂, indicating that the organic framework has been converted into a structure dominated by amorphous carbon. It is comprehensively determined that 600 ℃ and 2 h are the optimal carbonization process parameters, and the resulting material is suitable for use as a flexible sensor substrate.