Polymer/lignin blends: Interactions, properties, applications

[Display omitted] •Strong self-interactions of lignin molecules hinder miscibility with polymers.•Competitive interactions determine the structure and properties of lignin blends.•Interactions can be estimated quantitatively by simple models.•Interactions can be controlled by plasticization, chemica...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European polymer journal 2017-08, Vol.93, p.618-641
Main Authors: Kun, Dávid, Pukánszky, Béla
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adhesion
Application
Blend
Dispersion
Extraction technology
Lignin
Miscibility
Modification
Molecular structure
Plastics
Polarity
Polymer blends
Polymers
Properties (attributes)
Structure
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Summary:[Display omitted] •Strong self-interactions of lignin molecules hinder miscibility with polymers.•Competitive interactions determine the structure and properties of lignin blends.•Interactions can be estimated quantitatively by simple models.•Interactions can be controlled by plasticization, chemical modification and coupling.•The value added application of lignin increases continuously. Lignin is a cheap material available in large quantities, thus the interest in its valorization is increasing both in industry and academia. A possible approach towards value added applications is using it as a component in plastics. However, blending lignin with polymers is not straightforward because of the polarity of lignin molecules resulting in strong self-interactions. The structure and properties of lignin depend on the extraction technology used for its production. The structure of lignin is complex and its characterization difficult. Lignin has been added to various polymers in the last few decades and the resulting material was sometimes called blend, while in other cases composite. Based on arguments we show that lignin forms blends, and these are classified and discussed according to the interactions developing in them, since competitive interactions determine the structure and properties of the blends. Usually even strong interactions are not sufficient to result in complete miscibility. As a consequence, lignin is often modified chemically or by plasticization to improve its dispersion in plastics, or a compatibilizer is added to increase interfacial adhesion. Lignin can be used also as a reactive component in various resins and polymers.
ISSN:0014-3057
1873-1945
DOI:10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2017.04.035