(130e) Lignin Based Novel Blends and Composites

Lignin is a byproduct/co-product produced in a huge amount from paper industries and bioethanol industries. Currently, Lignin is mainly used as fuel for boilers with a very negligible percentage utilized for chemical recovery, agriculture and value added material applications. In the present study, Green composites were fabricated from engineered lignin, switch grass fiber and a biopolyester using twin screw extruder followed by injection moulding. 1% newly discovered compatibilizer with active functionality was used to improve the performance of composites. Different formulations i.e. with varying lignin content (30%, 50%, and 65%), biomass-lignin hybridization (50% filler content) and compatibiliized composites were made to evaluate the desired material properties for specific applications. The specimens were characterized through dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile and flexural tests. Incorporation of lignin improved the tensile, flexural, thermo mechanical properties of composites. Biomass-lignin hybridization with 1 wt% compatibilizer improved the flexural strength by 165%, storage modulus by 480% and heat deflection temperature (97.5 0C) by 26 0C. Compatibilized hybrid composite achieved flexural strength of 75.2MPa.