Carbon fibers have been produced from hardwood lignin/synthetic polymer blend fibers. Hardwood kraft lignin was thermally blended with two recyclable polymers, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and polypropylene (PP). Both systems were easily spun into fibers. A thermostabilization step was utilized prior to carbonization to prevent fusion of individual fibers. For the lignin-based carbon fibers, careful control of heating rate was required. However, PET–lignin blend fibers can be thermostabilized under higher heating rates than the corresponding homofibers. Carbon fiber yield decreased with increasing incorporation of synthetic plastic. However, carbon fiber yield obtained for a 25% plastic blend fiber was still higher than that generally reported for petroleum pitch. Blend composition also affected surface morphology of the carbon fibers. Immiscible lignin–PP fibers resulted in a hollow and/or porous carbon fiber; whereas carbon fiber produced from miscible lignin–PET fibers have a smooth surface. Synthetic polymer blending also affected the mechanical properties of the fibers, especially MOE; lignin-based carbon fiber properties improved upon blending with PET.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
S. H. Imam R. V. Greene B. R. Zaidi (1999) Biopolymers: Utilizing Nature’s Advanced Materials American Chemical Society Washington, DC
W. G. Glasser R. A. Northey T. P. Schultz (2000) Lignin: Historical, Biological, and Materials Perspectives American Chemical Society Washington, DC
W. G. Glasser S. Sarkanen (1989) Lignin: Properties and Materials American Chemical Society Washington,DC
J. F. Kadla S. Kubo (2003) Macromolecules 36 IssueID20 7803–7811 Occurrence Handle10.1021/ma0348371 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXnt1Klt7s%3D
J. F. Kadla S. Kubo R. A. Venditti R. D. Gilbert A. L. Compere W. Griffith (2002) Carbon 40 IssueID15 2913–2920 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0008-6223(02)00248-8 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xot1WmtrY%3D
J. F. Kadla S. Kubo R. A. Venditti R. D. Gilbert (2002) J. App. Polym. Sci. 85 IssueID6 1353–1355 Occurrence Handle10.1002/app.10640 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xks12gu7o%3D
S. Kubo N. Ishikawa Y. Uraki Y. Sano (1997) Mokuzai Gakkaishi 43 IssueID8 655–662 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXmtFans7g%3D
Y. Uraki S. Kubo N. Nigo Y. Sano T. Sasaya (1995) Holzforschung 49 IssueID4 343–350 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXnsVSgs7w%3D
Y. Li S. Sarkanen (2002) Macromolecules 35 IssueID26 9707–9715 Occurrence Handle10.1021/ma021124u Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XovVSms7o%3D
T. Matsuura P. Blais S Sourirajan (1976) J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 20 1515–1531 Occurrence Handle10.1002/app.1976.070200610 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE28XktlertL4%3D
C. M. Hansen A. Björkman (1998) Holzforschung 52 335–344 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXlsVGqtL4%3D
J. F. Kadla S. Kubo R. D. Gilbert R. A. Venditti A. Compere W. Griffith (2002) Carbon 40 IssueID15 2913–2920 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0008-6223(02)00248-8 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xot1WmtrY%3D
S. Kubo, R. D. Gilbert and J. F. Kadla (2004) in Natural Fibers, Biopolymers and their Biocomposites, Mohanty A.K., Misra M.,L. T. Drzal (Eds). CRC Press, New York.
J. F. Kadla S. Kubo (2004) Composites, Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 35 IssueID3 395–400
S. Kubo Y. Uraki Y. Sano (1998) Carbon 36 IssueID7–8 1119–1124 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0008-6223(98)00086-4 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXkslKgtLw%3D
J. F. Kadla, S. Kubo, R. D. Gilbert and R. A. Venditti (2002) in Chemical Modification, Properties, and Usage of Lignin (T. Q. Hu Ed.). Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York, pp. 121–138.
J. Braun K. Holtman J. F. Kadla (2004) Carbon 43 383–392
K. Sudo K. Shimizu N. Nakashima A. Yokoyama (1993) J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 48 IssueID8 1485–1491 Occurrence Handle10.1002/app.1993.070480817 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXisFKnur4%3D
S. Otani, Y. Fukuoka, B. Igarashi and K. Sasaki (1969) Method for producing carbonized lignin Fiber. 1969: U.S. Patent 3,461082
J.-B. Donnet (1998) Carbon Fibers Marcel Dekker New York
S.Y. Lin C.W. Dence (1992) Methods in Lignin Chemistry Springer-Verlag New York
T. Tagawa T. Miyata (1997) Mater. Sci. Eng., A. A238 IssueID2 336–342
S. Ozbek D. H. Isaac (1992) Am. Soc. Mech. Eng. 35 75–86 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXnsFSgsA%3D%3D
K. Tai N. Shindo (1993) Sen-i Gakkaishi 49 IssueID5 177–182
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kubo, S., Kadla, J.F. Lignin-based Carbon Fibers: Effect of Synthetic Polymer Blending on Fiber Properties. J Polym Environ 13, 97–105 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-005-2941-0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-005-2941-0