Modification of renewable resources—lignin—by three chemical methods and its applications to polyurethane foams. (17th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Liu; Wang, Xiaofeng; Cui, Yao; Tian, Yumei; Chen, Hongzhuo; Wang, Zichen
• Is Part Of: Polymers for advanced technologies. Volume 25:Number 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 1089
• Page End: 1098
• Publication Date: 2014-06-17
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/pat.3356
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1042-7147

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>To improve the economic viability of polymer from renewable resources, a value‐added lignin polymer is increasingly important. The lignin was successfully modified by three chemical methods: hydroxymethylation, epoxidation, and phenolation. Through these methods, the percentage of impurity had decreased, and the number of phenolic hydroxyl groups of lignin had dramatically increased, particularly by phenolation, reaching 9.41%, nearly three times higher than that in the unmodified one. Meanwhile, we added different amounts of modified lignin into polyurethane foams, and the results showed that 1 wt% modified lignin could not only increase the decomposition temperature of the foam material but also remarkably improve its mechanical properties. The optimum reaction time was 4 hr, and the reaction temperature was 80°C for blends. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>