Carbon fibre compositions comprising lignin derivatives
The present disclosure provides derivatives of native lignin suitable for production of carbon fibers wherein the derivatives of native lignin have a certain alkoxy content and/or a certain carbon content. The present lignin derivatives can have acceptable spinnability performance characteristics for producing carbon fibers having acceptable tensile strengths and acceptable modulus of elasticity.
1. A lignin derivative comprising a carbon content of 68.5 wt. % or greater and an alkoxy content of 0.45 mmol/g or greater.
2. The lignin derivative according to claim 1 , wherein the derivative has a carbon content of 69.5 wt. % or greater.
3. The lignin derivative according to claim 1 , wherein the derivative has an alkoxy content of about 0.6 mmol/g or greater.
4. The lignin derivative according to claim 1 , wherein the lignin is derived from hardwood biomass.
5. The lignin derivative according to claim 1 , wherein the lignin is derived from softwood biomass.
6. The lignin derivative according to Claim 1 , wherein the lignin is derived from annual fibre biomass.
7. The lignin derivative according to claim 1 , wherein the lignin is derived from biomass comprising Populus spp, Eucalyptus spp., Acacia spp., or combinations/hybrids thereof.
8. The lignin derivative according to claim 7 , wherein the biomass comprises Populus tremuloides, Eucalyptus globulus, Acacia dealbata, or combinations/hybrids thereof.
9. The lignin derivative according to claim 1 , wherein the lignin is derived from biomass comprising pine; spruce; or combinations/hybrids thereof.
10. The lignin derivative according to claim 1 , wherein the lignin is derived from biomass comprising Pinus radiata, Pinus taeda, BC spruce, and combinations/hybrids thereof.
11. The lignin derivative according to claim 1 , wherein the lignin is derived from biomass comprising wheat straw, bagasse, corn cobs, or combinations/hybrids thereof.
12. The lignin derivative of claim 1 , wherein the carbon content is measured following combustion at 975° C. in a pure oxygen environment.
13. A carbon fibre composition comprising the lignin derivative according to claim 1 .
14. A method of producing a carbon fibre composition from the lignin derivative according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
a. collecting biomass;
b. extracting the lignin derivatives according to claim 1 and spinning the lignin derivatives into fibres;
c. melting the fibres;
d. stabilizing the fibres; and
e. carbonizing the fibres.
15. A lignin derivative comprising a carbon content of 66.5 wt. % or greater and an ethoxy content of 0.45 mmol/g or greater.
16. The lignin derivative according to claim 15 , wherein the derivative has the ethoxy content of about 0.6 mmol/g or greater.
17. A hardwood lignin derivative comprising a carbon content from about 67.5 wt. % to about 75.5 wt. % and an ethoxy content of from 0.45 mmol/g to about 1.4 mmol/g.
18. A softwood lignin derivative comprising a carbon content from about 66.5 wt. % to about 80.0 wt. % and an ethoxy content of from about 0.35 mmol/g to about 1.4 mmol/g.
19. The softwood lignin derivative of claim 18 , wherein the carbon content is measured following combustion at 975° C. in a pure oxygen environment.