Functional lignin, and its use in producing blends, copolymers, and self-healing elastomers
A composition comprising lignin compounds possessing 8-30 (or 5-15 or 8-12) phenyl rings interconnected by ether and alkylene linkages and containing hydroxy and/or methoxy groups attached to said phenyl rings, wherein said composition possesses a glass transition temperature of 80-100° C. (or 95-98° C.) and a degree of substitution (DS) of carboxylic acid groups per phenyl ring of at least 0.5 and a DS of methoxy groups per phenyl ring of no more than 1.2, 1.1, or 1.0, wherein at least 90 wt % of said lignin compounds has a molecular weight within a range of 500-5000 g/mol, 1500-3000 g/mol, or 2000-2500 g/mol and/or wherein the molecular weight distribution of the lignin compounds is characterized by a polydispersity index of 1.0-1.5, 1.0-1.4, or 1.0-1.3, and wherein other lignin compounds not possessing the above characteristics are not present. Methods for producing the lignin extract and lignin copolymers and blends produced therefrom are also described.
1. A polymer blend or copolymer material comprising:
(i) a lignin component comprising lignin compounds possessing 5-30 phenyl rings interconnected by ether and alkylene linkages and containing hydroxy and/or methoxy groups attached to said phenyl rings;
wherein said lignin component possesses a glass transition temperature of 80-100° C. and a degree of substitution (DS) of carboxylic acid groups per phenyl ring of at least 0.5 and a DS of methoxy groups per phenyl ring of no more than 1.2;
wherein at least 90 wt % of said lignin compounds has a molecular weight within a range of 500-5000 g/mol and/or wherein the molecular weight distribution of the lignin compounds is characterized by a polydispersity index of 1.0-1.5; and
wherein other lignin compounds not possessing the above characteristics are not present; and
(ii) an acrylonitrile-containing polymer component;
wherein said lignin component is present in an amount of at least 5 wt % and up to about 95 wt % by total weight of components (i) and (ii).
2. The polymer blend or copolymer material of claim 1 , wherein said lignin component comprises lignin compounds possessing 5-15 phenyl rings interconnected by ether and alkylene linkages and containing hydroxy and/or methoxy groups attached to said phenyl rings;
wherein said composition possesses a glass transition temperature range having a median temperature within 80-100° C. and lower and upper temperature bounds of ±5° C. from the median temperature, and a degree of substitution (DS) of carboxylic acid groups per phenyl ring of at least 0.5 and a DS of methoxy groups per phenyl ring of no more than 1.2;
wherein at least 90 wt % of said lignin compounds has a molecular weight within a range of 1500-3000 g/mol and/or wherein the molecular weight distribution of the lignin compounds is characterized by a polydispersity index of 1.0-1.5; and
wherein other lignin compounds not possessing the above characteristics are not present.
3. The polymer blend material of claim 1 , wherein said acrylonitrile-containing polymer is nitrile butadiene rubber.
4. A polymer blend or copolymer material comprising:
(i) a lignin component comprising lignin compounds possessing 5-30 phenyl rings interconnected by ether and alkylene linkages and containing hydroxy and/or methoxy groups attached to said phenyl rings;
wherein said lignin component possesses a glass transition temperature of 80-100° C. and a degree of substitution (DS) of carboxylic acid groups per phenyl ring of at least 0.5 and a DS of methoxy groups per phenyl ring of no more than 1.2;
wherein at least 90 wt % of said lignin compounds has a molecular weight within a range of 500-5000 g/mol and/or wherein the molecular weight distribution of the lignin compounds is characterized by a polydispersity index of 1.0-1.5; and
wherein other lignin compounds not possessing the above characteristics are not present; and
(ii) a polyamide polymer component;
wherein said lignin component is present in an amount of at least 5 wt % and up to about 95 wt % by total weight of components (i) and (ii).
5. The polymer blend or copolymer material of claim 4 , wherein said lignin component comprises lignin compounds possessing 5-15 phenyl rings interconnected by ether and alkylene linkages and containing hydroxy and/or methoxy groups attached to said phenyl rings;
wherein said composition possesses a glass transition temperature range having a median temperature within 80-100° C. and lower and upper temperature bounds of ±5° C. from the median temperature, and a degree of substitution (DS) of carboxylic acid groups per phenyl ring of at least 0.5 and a DS of methoxy groups per phenyl ring of no more than 1.2;
wherein at least 90 wt % of said lignin compounds has a molecular weight within a range of 1500-3000 g/mol and/or wherein the molecular weight distribution of the lignin compounds is characterized by a polydispersity index of 1.0-1.5; and
wherein other lignin compounds not possessing the above characteristics are not present.
6. The polymer blend or copolymer material of claim 4 , wherein said polyamide is a nylon.