Treatment of Lignin Precursors to Improve their Suitability for Carbon Fibers: A Literature Review

Conference · Fri Apr 17 00:00:00 EDT 2015

OSTI ID:1178194

Paul, Ryan ^[1]; Naskar, Amit ^[2]; Gallego, Nidia ^[2]; Dai, Xuliang ^[1]; Hausner, Andrew ^[1]

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1. GrafTech International Holdings Inc.
2. Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Lignin has been investigated as a carbon fiber precursor since the 1960s. Although there have been a number of reports of successful lignin-based carbon fiber production at the lab scale, lignin-based carbon fibers are not currently commercially available. This review will highlight some of the known challenges, and also the reported methods for purifying and modifying lignin to improve it as a precursor. Lignin can come from different sources (e.g. hardwood, softwood, grasses) and extraction methods (e.g. organosolv, kraft), meaning that lignin can be found with a diversity of purity and structure. The implication of these conditions on lignin as carbon fiber precursor is not comprehensively known, especially as the lignin landscape is evolving. The work presented in this review will help guide the direction of a project between GrafTech and ORNL to develop lignin carbon fiber technology, as part of a cooperative agreement with the DOE Advanced Manufacturing Office.

• Research Organization: GrafTech International Holdings Inc.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Advanced Manufacturing Office
• DOE Contract Number: EE0005779
• OSTI ID: 1178194
• Report Number(s): DOE-GTI-0005779-1
• Resource Relation: Conference: CARBON FIBERS AND THEIR COMPOSITES AND APPLICATIONS, An American Carbon Society Workshop, April 16-17, 2015, Double Tree House, Oak Ridge, TN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English