Lignin-containing polymers polymer blends

Darie, R.N., Vasile, C., Cazacu, G., Kozlowski, M. Effect of lignin incorporation on some physico-mechanical properties of blends containing synthetic polymers. 7th International Conference APT 2007 Advances in Plastics Technology, Katowice, Poland 12-15 Nov, 2007... 

Sugar cane waste is another raw material that can be treated in a hot solution of concentrated acetic acid in hydrochloric acid solution. After re-concentration, the lignin is then precipitated in warm water and finally recovered by dissolution in acetone. Due to all this complex chemistry, the major commercialised wood polymers are blends. These plastics contain wood powder, starch or lignin. The presence of lignin as a filler in other polymers improves the quahty of the biodegradation. Some of those products are reinforced with flax or hemp. 

Three-dimensional moldings from plant fibers (up to 80%) and polyolefins have been developed for applications as containers, shock absorbers, and heat insulators (Takasaki and Naito, 2002). Instead of the plant fiber, lignins have also been used as fillers with biodegradable polymers like poly(l-lactic acid), and the resulting blend was found to be promising due to the good material properties and economics (Li et al, 2003). 

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