Effect of Lignin and CNTs on the properties of melt-spun polymeric fibers

National Technical University of Athens, Department of Chemical Engineering, RNANO Lab – Research Unit of Advanced, Composite, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou st., Zografos Athens, GR-15773

^* Costas A. Charitidis: charitidis@chemeng.ntua.gr

Abstract

The quality of high density polyethylene (HDPE) - lignin spun fibers depends on the spinning method and the chemical modification of the raw material. On the other hand, nylon-type polymers are widely known for their simple experimental synthesis and use. The goal of this study was the fabrication of composites containing lignin, nylon and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) based fibers with enhanced mechanical properties. Therefore, a nylon-type polymer was synthesized, using diethylenetriamine and sebacoyl chloride, and was conjugated with lignin as well as MWCNTs with the aim of determining the materials' compatibility, differences in chemical behavior as well as their ability to be melt spun and be further processed. The materials were compounded with HDPE and melt spun, producing fibers that were characterized in respect of their morphology, structural, chemical and elemental composition. Finally, the HDPE fibers were used for the production of one dimensional composites inside dumb bell type sacrificial templates with an epoxy resin solution. The composites, which contained fibers enriched with oxidized lignin and MWCNTs, presented higher elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength than the rest of the composites. This is a novel attempt, presenting an innovation concerning durable fibers with low cost materials and procedures.