Enhancing Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Ramie Fiber via Impregnation by Lignin-Based Polyurethane Resin

Sucia Okta Handika,Raden Permana Budi Laksana,Apri Heri Iswanto,Muhammad Adly Rahandi Lubis,Milada Gajtanska,Rita Kartika Sari,Viktor Savov,Petar Antov

doi:10.3390/ma14226850

Sucia Okta Handika, Raden Permana Budi Laksana + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14226850

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Abstract

In this study, lignin isolated and fractionated from black liquor was used as a pre-polymer to prepare bio-polyurethane (Bio-PU) resin, and the resin was impregnated into ramie fiber (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) to improve its thermal and mechanical properties. The isolated lignin was fractionated by one-step fractionation using two different solvents, i.e., methanol (MeOH) and acetone (Ac). Each fractionated lignin was dissolved in NaOH and then reacted with a polymeric 4,4-methane diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) polymer at an NCO/OH mole ratio of 0.3. The resulting Bio-PU was then used in the impregnation of ramie fiber. The characterization of lignin, Bio-PU, and ramie fiber was carried out using several techniques, i.e., Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), pyrolysis-gas-chromatography-mass-spectroscopy (Py-GCMS), Micro Confocal Raman spectroscopy, and an evaluation of fiber mechanical properties (modulus of elasticity and tensile strength). Impregnation of Bio-PU into ramie fiber resulted in weight gain ranging from 6% to 15%, and the values increased when extending the impregnation time. The reaction between the NCO group on Bio-PU and the OH group on ramie fiber forms a C=O group of urethane as confirmed by FTIR and Micro Confocal Raman spectroscopies at a wavenumber of 1600 cm−1. Based on the TGA analysis, ramie fiber with lignin-based Bio-PU had better thermal properties than ramie fiber before impregnation with a greater weight residue of 21.7%. The mechanical properties of ramie fiber also increased after impregnation with lignin-based Bio-PU, resulting in a modulus of elasticity of 31 GPa for ramie-L-isolated and a tensile strength of 577 MPa for ramie-L-Ac. The enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of impregnated ramie fiber with lignin-based Bio-PU resins could increase the added value of ramie fiber and enhance its more comprehensive industrial application as a functional material.

Highlights

This article is an open access articlePolyurethane (PU) resin is a polymer that contains urethane linkages (R−N−H−C=O−R)in the main polymer chain
This study showed that isolated lignin from black liquor and fractionated lignin did not damage the structure of lignin
The results showed that the impregnation of ramie remarkably enhanced the thermal stability by reducing the weight ramiefiber fiberwith withBio-PU

Summary

Introduction

This article is an open access articlePolyurethane (PU) resin is a polymer that contains urethane linkages (R−N−H−C=O−R)in the main polymer chain. Such as high mechanical strength, flexibility at low temperatures, and the ability to be formed as a rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible foam with various densities, PU has become one of the most important type of resins used in various value-added applications, with an estimated global market volume of approximately 24 million tons in 2020 [6,7]. The synthesis of PU is carried out through a condensation reaction between isocyanates and polyols, where the main ingredients of the polymer to produce polyurethane are derived from refining crude oil and coal [8]. The main environmental problem in the production process is related to the formation of toxic substances such as polyisocyanate and its phosgene intermediate. Major techniques for converting vegetable oils to polyols are hydroformylation, transesterification/amidation, epoxidation/oxirane-ring opening, and ozonolysis [10,11,12,13]

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