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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
10:22
Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
Published on: November 30, 2020
Sustainable Development and Polymer-Based Functional Innovation in the Lacquer Industry: Resources, Technologies, and
Yihua Qian1, Xiaoyu Wu1, Yujia Liu1
1College of Furnishing and Industrial Design, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
Polymers
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Natural lacquer, a sustainable bio-based coating, shows promise due to its durability and resistance. Advances in enzymatic curing and modifications like polyurethane hybridization enhance its properties, but allergen reduction and scalability challenges remain for widespread use.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Natural lacquer, derived from Toxicodendron vernicifluum, is a sustainable bio-based polymer.
- It possesses exceptional mechanical durability, chemical resistance, and aesthetic qualities.
- Renewed scientific interest focuses on its potential as an advanced coating material.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current knowledge on natural lacquer's chemical composition and enzymatic curing.
- To review structure-property relationships in lacquer-based polymer systems.
- To highlight recent advances in functional modification and processing technologies.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on laccase-catalyzed oxidative polymerization of urushiol.
- Analysis of property enhancements through polyurethane hybridization and graphene oxide incorporation.
- Investigation of UV-curable LPEA (lacquer-based polymer emulsion) derivatives for reduced curing times.
Main Results:
- Laccase catalysis optimally occurs at pH 6.0-7.5 and 20-30 °C, forming a cross-linked urushiol network.
- Polyurethane hybridization improves weathering resistance; graphene oxide enhances anticorrosion performance.
- UV-curable LPEA derivatives reduce curing time by 83%, enabling industrial spray-coating integration.
Conclusions:
- Significant limitations include insufficient allergen reduction, unestablished long-term stability of nanocomposites, and lack of scalability validation.
- Absence of standardized evaluation protocols and fragmented data hinder systematic progress.
- Future work should focus on integrated processing-modification-performance frameworks for rational design of next-generation lacquer materials.
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