Title: Modified lignin for composite and pellet binder applications

Authors: Luke Gibbons; Madeline Smith; Rafael L. Quirino

Addresses: Chemistry Department, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA ' Chemistry Department, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA ' Chemistry Department, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA

Abstract: Lignin is a naturally occurring polymer that is present in all vascular plants. It binds together the cell walls, thus being one of the main structural components of vegetable tissue. In this project, alkali and dealkali lignins have been chemically modified in order to incorporate reactive fragments for subsequent free radical co-polymerisation with n-butyl methacrylate, styrene, or divinylbenzene (DVB). The thermal properties of regular and modified lignins were assessed and compared. The cross-linking of modified lignins with DVB yields materials with properties suitable for applications as a pellet binder, as well as a bio-based resin for the preparation of biocomposites. The chemical modification of alkali and dealkali lignin has been verified by Raman and infrared spectroscopies. The thermo-mechanical properties of the final materials prepared have been assessed by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and are reported and discussed in this work.

Keywords: lignin modification; bio-based resins; free radical polymerisation; biocomposites; phenol-formaldehyde resins; thermosetting materials; lignin-based polymers; dealkali lignins; alkali lignins; n-butyl methacrylate; styrene; divinylbenzene; DVB; pellet binders; thermo-mechanical properties.

DOI: 10.1504/IJECB.2015.073925

International Journal of Experimental and Computational Biomechanics, 2015 Vol.3 No.3, pp.200 - 217

Received: 29 Jul 2014
Accepted: 02 Apr 2015
Published online: 30 Dec 2015 *

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