Title: Stereolithography 3D Printing of Lignin-Reinforced Composites with Enhanced Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Due to the availability, biodegradability, and biological effects, lignin has emerged as an interesting alternative to petroleum-based compounds for developing sustainable chemicals, materials, and composites. In this study, lignin at various concentrations was incorporated into methacrylate resin via solution blending to fabricate lignin-reinforced composites using stereolithography apparatus three-dimensional printing. Softwood kraft lignin in the amounts of 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0 wt % in the methacrylate resin was used as a printing ink, and the gel contents and relative contents of the residual resin in the printed samples with various lignin concentrations were measured. The effects of the lignin on the ultimate mechanical properties of the non-postcured and postcured printed composites were determined. The tensile testing results revealed that the incorporation of lignin in the composite increased the tensile strength by 46–64% and Young’s modulus by 13–37% for the postcured printed composites compared with that of the control sample (no lignin added). Employing a 0.4 wt % softwood kraft lignin, the tensile strength of the postcured printed composite reached the highest value of 49.0 MPa, which was a 60% increase in comparison to that of the control sample with 30.7 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy images of the fracture samplesmore » illustrated that the lignin-incorporated composites exhibited a rougher fracture surface that can presumably dissipate the stress, which could be a contributing factor for the mechanical enhancement.« less

Authors:

Zhang, Shuyang ^[1]; Li, Mi  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Li, Mi"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-7523-1266"

Hao, Naijia ^[1]; Ragauskas, Arthur J.  ^[3]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Ragauskas, Arthur J."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-3536-554X"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
2. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Joint Institute for Computational Sciences (JIBS)
3. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Joint Institute for Computational Sciences (JIBS) ; Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)

Publication Date:

Wed Nov 20 00:00:00 EST 2019

Research Org.:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1606675

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

ACS Omega

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 4; Journal Issue: 23; Journal ID: ISSN 2470-1343

Publisher:

American Chemical Society (ACS)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; Composites; Organic polymers; 3D printing; Biopolymers; Tensile strength