Influence of addition of vapor grown carbon fibers on mechanical, thermal and biodegradation properties of lignin nanoparticle filled bio-poly(trimethylene terephthalate) hybrid nanocomposites

Abstract

Bio-poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (bio-PTT) hybrid nanocomposites constituting 1.5 wt% of lignin nanoparticles (LNP) and variable wt% of vapor-grown carbon fibers (VGCF) were prepared using melt extrusion followed by a microinjection molding technique. Mechanical results revealed an improvement in tensile flexural and impact properties of bio-PTT with 1.5 wt% LNP and bio-PTT hybrid nanocomposites with the incorporation of 7 wt% of VGCF, respectively. The thermal properties of the hybrid nanocomposites have been investigated using HDT, and TGA. FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of hydrogen bonds between the aliphatic -OH groups of LNP and the carbonyl group of the bio-PTT matrix. The water resistance of the bio-PTT/LNP/VGCF hybrid nanocomposites was higher than that of bio-PTT/LNP nanocomposites as well as the bio-PTT matrix. In addition, the morphological changes in the hybrid nanocomposites were also monitored through scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Lignin from Micro- to Nanosize: Production Methods

“…Frangville et al [ 16 ] introduced the “standard methods” of lignin nanoparticle precipitation, which were used for several other publications [ 23 , 43 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ]. The first standard method is based on simultaneous pH and solvent change and the second on a pH change from basic to acidic in aqueous medium [ 64 ].…”

From lignin association to nano-/micro-particle preparation: extracting higher value of lignin

“…However, the lack of well-defined structures of lignin poses a serious challenge for medical applications. Lignin nanoparticles (including capsules and tubes) have been prepared by anti-solvent precipitation, 25,26,53,54 self-assembly, 55,56 interfacial polymerization/crosslinking, 13,19 using nanopore alumina membranes as a template, 57 mechanical shearing 24 and sonication. 58 A survey of literature studies of lignin nanoparticles is summarized in Table 2.…”

Lignin Nanoparticles and Their Nanocomposites

“…Lignin nanoparticles and carbon fibers were used as additives to produce ternary hybrid nanocomposites in the poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) matrix by Gupta et al [ 121 ]. Compared with pure PTT matrix, the tensile flexibility and impact performance of nanocomposites significantly improved due to the addition of 1.5wt.% nano-lignin.…”