Title: Carbon Fibers Derived from UV Stabilization of Lignin Precursor Fibers

Authors: Sagar Kanhere, Dr. Liying Wei, Elijah Taylor, Michael Green, Prof. Amod Ogale

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/s.22.0836

Abstract: Carbon fibers (CFs) are used in light-weight high-performance composites due to their outstanding strength and modulus. Over 90% of commercial CFs are produced from polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Due to the high cost of PAN and related environmental concerns, low-cost and bio-sourced lignin fibers have been investigated as alternatives. However, stabilization of precursor fibers (a critical step during conversion to CFs) is a rate-limiting step with hardwood kraft lignin taking multiple days for adequate stabilization [1,2]. In earlier studies, we have reported on accelerated UV-assisted thermo-oxidative stabilization of softwood lignin fibers [3]. In this study, we report on the stabilization of hardwood lignin (hybrid poplar) fibers that took multiple days (about 85 hours) to thermo-oxidatively crosslink due to its low reactivity [1]. However, UV irradiation could speed up the reactions over 20-fold with adequate crosslinking observed after just 3.5 hrs. The tensile strength of carbon fibers that were thermo-oxidatively stabilized was 530±80 MPa. Carbon fibers produced from the accelerated UV-stabilization process displayed as much strength, at 526±160 MPa. SEM micrographs of carbonized fibers show no evidence of fiber fusion during the UV-stabilization step. Raman spectroscopy indicates that there is no change in graphitic development for carbon fibers produced using the two different stabilization methods. Thus, a four-fold decrease in stabilization time was achieved using UV-stabilization without affecting carbon fibers properties.

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Conference: SAMPE 2022

Publication Date: 2022/05/23

SKU: TP22-0000000836

Pages: 7

Price: $14.00