Abstract
This report describes methods to enhance mechanical properties of a renewable thermoplastic rubber by incorporating functional graphene platelets into an equal-mass mixture of lignin, a feedstock from plant biomass, and a nitrile-butadiene rubber having 41 mol % acrylonitrile content (NBR41) that form a nanocomposite. Not all lignins yield mechanically strong material when they are combined with NBR41, and thus, limit its use for such rubbery products. Here, we evaluate different graphene oxides (GO) and reduced graphene oxides (rGO) dry-powders with different surface areas, functionality, and wettability in the synthesis of performance-enhanced nanocomposites of soft lignin/NBR41 matrix via a solvent-free, high shear reactive process. High surface area GO (HSGO) platelets with strong hydrophilicity exhibit good dispersion in the multiphase lignin/NBR41 composites with lignin dispersion varying from 200 to 2000 nm, resulting in superior reinforcement over other graphene derivatives. The addition of 1–4 wt % HSGO increased the tensile stress of the lignin/NBR41 thermoplastic rubber matrix by 60–160% (15–24 MPa) and the modulus by 200–700% (60–140 MPa). Scanning electron microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering results show that the well-dispersed HSGO platelets effectively disrupt the lignin-rich aggregates in NBR41 matrix, resulting in both strength and stiffness enhancements in the formed nanocomposites. This report on performance enhancement of lignin-based renewable polymers via the production of nanocomposite would increase potential for ‘finding the value of lignin’―a grand challenge associated with modern biorefineries.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 108352 |
Journal | Composites Science and Technology |
Volume | 199 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 20 2020 |
Funding
The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) , Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) , Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) , under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 . SAXS and XRD measurements were conducted at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), which is sponsored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by the Scientific User Facilities Division, U.S. Department of Energy. Notice of Copyright: This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan).The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725. SAXS and XRD measurements were conducted at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), which is sponsored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by the Scientific User Facilities Division, U.S. Department of Energy. Notice of Copyright: This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle , LLC under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy . The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan ( http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan ).
Funders | Funder number |
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DOE Public Access Plan | |
Scientific User Facilities Division | |
United States Government | |
U.S. Department of Energy | |
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy | |
Oak Ridge National Laboratory | |
Bioenergy Technologies Office | DE-AC05-00OR22725 |