Disassociated molecular orientation distributions of a composite cellulose–lignin carbon fiber precursor : A study by rotor synchronized NMR spectroscopy and X-ray scattering

• Cellulose–lignin composite carbon fibers have shown to be a potential environmentally benign alternative to the traditional polyacrylonitrile precursor. With the associated cost reduction, cellulose–lignin carbon fibers are an attractive light-weight material for, e.g. wind power and automobile manufacturing. The carbon fiber tenacity, tensile modulus and creep resistance is in part determined by the carbon content and the molecular orientation distribution of the precursor. This work disassociates the molecular orientation of different components in cellulose–lignin composite fibers using rotor-synchronized solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray scattering. Our results show that lignin is completely disordered, in a mechanically stretched cellulose–lignin composite fiber, while the cellulose is ordered. In contrast, the native spruce wood raw material displays both oriented lignin and cellulose. The current processes for fabricating a cellulose–lignin composite fiber cannot regain the oriented lignin as observed from the native wood. © 2020 The Author(s)

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Pappers-, massa- och fiberteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik -- Polymerteknologi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering -- Polymer Technologies (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Kompositmaterial och -teknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Composite Science and Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Carbon fibers

Composite

Fiber

Lignin

Molecular orientation distribution

Regenerated cellulose

Rotor synchronized magic-angle spinning

Solid-state NMR

Wood

X-ray scattering

Cellulose

Cost reduction

Creep resistance

Fibers

Graphite fibers

Molecular orientation

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Wind power

X ray scattering

Associated costs

Automobile manufacturing

Carbon fiber precursors

Environmentally benign

Lightweight materials

Orientation distributions

Polyacrylonitrile precursors

Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)