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Published on: January 7, 2019
Improved lignin polyurethane properties with Lewis acid treatment
Hoyong Chung1, Newell R Washburn
1Department of Chemistry, §Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University , 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|May 12, 2012
Summary
Chemical modification of lignin using hydrogen bromide significantly improved lignin-based polyurethanes. This enhanced material integration and increased mechanical properties, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Biomass Valorization
Background:
- Lignin, a renewable resource, is an underutilized component in polymer synthesis.
- Improving the reactivity and integration of lignin into polymer networks is crucial for developing advanced materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate chemical modification strategies for enhancing lignin's mechanical properties in polyurethanes.
- To increase the concentration of reactive hydroxyl groups in lignin for better polymer network integration.
Main Methods:
- Lignin modification using hydrogen bromide (HBr) catalysis to increase hydroxyl group content.
- Synthesis of polyurethanes using modified lignin and toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) with polyethylene glycol (PEG).
- Characterization of mechanical properties and hydrophilicity of the resulting polyurethanes.
Main Results:
- HBr treatment increased lignin's hydroxyl group content by 28%.
- Modified lignin integrated into the polyurethane network, unlike unmodified lignin.
- A 6.5-fold increase in modulus was observed for modified lignin polyurethanes.
Conclusions:
- Chemical modification significantly improves the mechanical properties of lignin-based polyurethanes.
- Increased hydroxyl groups enhance lignin's reactivity and integration into the polymer network.
- This approach promotes the use of renewable lignin in high-performance materials, reducing reliance on petroleum-based monomers.
