Lignin : A biopolymer from forestry biomass for biocomposites and 3D printing

• Biopolymers from forestry biomass are promising for the sustainable development of new biobased materials. As such, lignin and fiber-based biocomposites are plausible renewable alternatives to petrochemical-based products. In this study, we have obtained lignin from Spruce biomass through a soda pulping process. The lignin was used for manufacturing biocomposite filaments containing 20% and 40% lignin and using polylactic acid (PLA) as matrix material. Dogbones for mechanical testing were 3D printed by fused deposition modelling. The lignin and the corresponding biocomposites were characterized in detail, including thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), antioxidant capacity, mechanical properties, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Although lignin led to a reduction of the tensile strength and modulus, the reduction could be counteracted to some extent by adjusting the 3D printing temperature. The results showed that lignin acted as a nucleating agent and thus led to further crystallization of PLA. The radical scavenging activity of the biocomposites increased to roughly 50% antioxidant potential/cm2, for the biocomposite containing 40 wt % lignin. The results demonstrate the potential of lignin as a component in biocomposite materials, which we show are adequate for 3D printing operations. © 2019 by the authors.

Nyckelord

3D printing

Biocomposites

Biopolymers

Lignin

Polylactic acid (PLA)

Antioxidants

Biomass

Biomolecules

Composite materials

Differential scanning calorimetry

Forestry

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Fused Deposition Modeling

Gravimetric analysis

Mechanical testing

Petrochemicals

Polyesters

Scanning electron microscopy

Tensile strength

Thermogravimetric analysis

Timber

X ray powder diffraction

3-D printing

Antioxidant capacity

Antioxidant potential

Bio-composites

Biocomposite materials

Fused deposition modelling

Poly lactic acid

Radical scavenging activity

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