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Title: An approach towards tailoring interfacial structures and properties of multiphase renewable thermoplastics from lignin–nitrile rubber

Abstract

Lignin-derived thermoplastics and elastomers with both versatile performance and commercialization potential have been an elusive pursuit for the past several decades. Lignin content has been limited to about 30 wt %, often requiring chemical modification, solvent fractionation of lignin, or prohibitively expensive additives. Each of these factors is a deterrent to industrial adoption of lignin-based polymers, limiting the potential of this renewable resource. Herein we describe high-performance multiphase thermoplastics made with a blend of 41 wt % unmodified industrial lignin and low-cost additives in a matrix of general-purpose acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR). Hardwood soda lignin (HSL) and softwood kraft lignin (SKL) were blended under high shear conditions with NBR, carbon black (CB), polyethylene oxide (PEO), boric acid (BA), and dicumyl peroxide (DCP). This combination with SKL lignin in the proper proportions resulted in a thermoplastic with a tensile strength and failure strain of 25.2 MPa and 9 %, respectively; it exhibited an unexpected tensile yield, similar to that of ABS, a commodity thermoplastic. The analogous HSL lignin compositions are tough materials with tensile strengths of 7.3 16.7 MPa and failure strain of 80 140 %. The contrasting ductility and yield stress behavior were analyzed based on the compositions morphology and interfacialmore » structure arising from the nature of each lignin studied. Lastly, the roles of CB as a reinforcement in the rubbery phase, DCP and BA as cross-linkers to create multiphase networks, and PEO to promote the adhesion and compatibility of lignin in commercial-grade NBR are also discussed in detail.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [3];  [1]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); The Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  3. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)
Sponsoring Org.:
Work for Others (WFO); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
OSTI Identifier:
1330526
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Green Chemistry
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 18; Journal Issue: 20; Journal ID: ISSN 1463-9262
Publisher:
Royal Society of Chemistry
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

Citation Formats

Bova, Tony, Tran, Chau D., Balakshin, Mikhail Y., Chen, Jihua, Capanema, Ewellyn A., and Naskar, Amit K. An approach towards tailoring interfacial structures and properties of multiphase renewable thermoplastics from lignin–nitrile rubber. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1039/C6GC01067A.
Bova, Tony, Tran, Chau D., Balakshin, Mikhail Y., Chen, Jihua, Capanema, Ewellyn A., & Naskar, Amit K. An approach towards tailoring interfacial structures and properties of multiphase renewable thermoplastics from lignin–nitrile rubber. United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6GC01067A
Bova, Tony, Tran, Chau D., Balakshin, Mikhail Y., Chen, Jihua, Capanema, Ewellyn A., and Naskar, Amit K. Mon . "An approach towards tailoring interfacial structures and properties of multiphase renewable thermoplastics from lignin–nitrile rubber". United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6GC01067A. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1330526.
@article{osti_1330526,
title = {An approach towards tailoring interfacial structures and properties of multiphase renewable thermoplastics from lignin–nitrile rubber},
author = {Bova, Tony and Tran, Chau D. and Balakshin, Mikhail Y. and Chen, Jihua and Capanema, Ewellyn A. and Naskar, Amit K.},
abstractNote = {Lignin-derived thermoplastics and elastomers with both versatile performance and commercialization potential have been an elusive pursuit for the past several decades. Lignin content has been limited to about 30 wt %, often requiring chemical modification, solvent fractionation of lignin, or prohibitively expensive additives. Each of these factors is a deterrent to industrial adoption of lignin-based polymers, limiting the potential of this renewable resource. Herein we describe high-performance multiphase thermoplastics made with a blend of 41 wt % unmodified industrial lignin and low-cost additives in a matrix of general-purpose acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR). Hardwood soda lignin (HSL) and softwood kraft lignin (SKL) were blended under high shear conditions with NBR, carbon black (CB), polyethylene oxide (PEO), boric acid (BA), and dicumyl peroxide (DCP). This combination with SKL lignin in the proper proportions resulted in a thermoplastic with a tensile strength and failure strain of 25.2 MPa and 9 %, respectively; it exhibited an unexpected tensile yield, similar to that of ABS, a commodity thermoplastic. The analogous HSL lignin compositions are tough materials with tensile strengths of 7.3 16.7 MPa and failure strain of 80 140 %. The contrasting ductility and yield stress behavior were analyzed based on the compositions morphology and interfacial structure arising from the nature of each lignin studied. Lastly, the roles of CB as a reinforcement in the rubbery phase, DCP and BA as cross-linkers to create multiphase networks, and PEO to promote the adhesion and compatibility of lignin in commercial-grade NBR are also discussed in detail.},
doi = {10.1039/C6GC01067A},
journal = {Green Chemistry},
number = 20,
volume = 18,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Aug 08 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Mon Aug 08 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

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