Enhancing Carbon Fiber and Plastics with HiMWELL Lignin

Date:August 18, 2022

Country: United States

Application

• This project enables the development of stronger, lighter carbon fiber and recyclable plastics with improved mechanical properties and UV protection. These materials could be used in applications such as structural reinforcement in vehicles, including car shells, and other high-performance industries.

Description

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, led by Professor Joshua Yuan, have developed a new form of lignin called HiMWELL by chemically altering its properties. When combined with polyacrylonitrile (PAN), HiMWELL enables the creation of stronger, lighter carbon fiber and recyclable plastics with improved mechanical properties and UV protection. This breakthrough opens up the potential for using lignin, a waste product, in high-performance materials like car shells and structural reinforcements for various industries.

Pathway Description:

The process used to convert lignin involves chemically altering its structure to create High Molecular Weight Esterified Linkage Lignin (HiMWELL). This modification addresses lignin's uneven chemical structure and reactive OH groups, making it compatible with other polymers. The altered lignin is then combined with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) to produce stronger, lighter carbon fiber and enhanced recyclable plastics.