A New Class of Renewable Thermoplastics with Extraordinary Performance from Nanostructured Lignin-Elastomers

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106 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new class of thermoplastic elastomers has been created by introducing nanoscale-dispersed lignin (a biomass-derived phenolic oligomer) into nitrile rubber. Temperature-induced controlled miscibility between the lignin and the rubber during high shear melt-phase synthesis allows tuning the material's morphology and performance. The sustainable product has unprecedented yield stress (15-45 MPa), strain hardens at large deformation, and has outstanding recyclability. The multiphase polymers developed from an equal-mass mixture of a melt-stable lignin fraction and nitrile rubber with optimal acrylonitrile content, using the method described here, show 5-100 nm lignin lamellae with a high-modulus rubbery interphase. Molded or printed elastomeric products prepared from the lignin-nitrile material offer an additional revenue stream to pulping mills and biorefineries. A novel and powerful method for synthesizing a new class of high-performance renewable thermoplastic elastomers is introduced. This new class of multiphase polymers shows 5-100 nm thick interconnected lignin lamellae with a high modulus rubbery interphase. The success in developing this unique morphology is the key innovation behind this first report on lignin-based elastomers with unique yield stress.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2677-2685
Number of pages9
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume26
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 25 2016

Keywords

  • elastomers
  • lignin
  • nanostructured morphology
  • recyclable polymers
  • renewable thermoplastics

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