Makiko Enoki

Improvement of Mechanical Properties of Softwood Lignin-Based Carbon Fibers

Abstract PEG-lignin fibers obtained by a solvolysis pulping of Japanese cedar with polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400 were successfully converted into defective-free, infusible fibers as a precursor for carbon fibers (CFs) by chemical curing followed by oxidative thermostabilization. The curing was performed by immersing PEG-lignin fibers in an aqueous mixed solution of hexamethylenetetramine (60 g/L) and hydrochloric acid (3 M) at 85°C for 1 h, resulting in the formation of crosslinkages between lignin molecules through methylene groups. These cured fibers were completely thermostabilized upon heating up to 250°C at a heating rate of 2°C/min under an air atmosphere. Finally, the thermostabilized fibers were carbonized to yield CFs, which showed about 1.5 times the tensile strength of our CFs previously prepared.

Mechanical Effect of Acetic Acid Lignin Adsorption on Honeycomb-Patterned Cellulosic Films

Abstract We have already fabricated honeycomb-patterned cellulosic films with cellulose I and II polymorphisms as a basal framework in order to create an artificial woody cell wall.[ 1 , 2 ] The adsorption of an isolated lignin, acetic acid lignin (AL), was attempted onto the honeycomb films not only to develop materials further mimicking the cell wall but also to elucidate the mechanical effect of isolated lignin on the tensile strength of the cellulosic architecture. The tensile strengths of honeycomb-patterned cellulosic films were improved by the AL adsorption. Although the cellulosic films without lignin weakened under high moisture content conditions as compared with those under the low content conditions, the lignin-adsorbed cellulosic film maintained significant tensile strength even under the high content conditions. This result suggests that lignin contributes to reinforce the mechanical strength of cellulose framework, in particular high moisture conditions.