Synthesis and properties of lignin-highly branched poly (ester-amine) polymeric systems

Combined characteristics of hydrogen bonded/cross-linked polymer networks based on lignin motifs have been developed. This new type of polymeric material was prepared from an industrial lignin and a highly branched poly(ester-amine) (HBPEA) obtained by melt polycondensation of 1,1,1-triethanolamine (TEA) and adipic acid (AA). The lignin-HBPEA polymers were shown to be insoluble in common organic solvents and were characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopies. Thermo-mechanical measurements showed that melt mixing HBPEA with 40% lignin results in a flexible and tough material (T_g; 7.7 °C and E′ 3.5 GPa). The hydrogen bonding recognition was based on various hydroxyl groups in lignin and aliphatic ester groups from HBPEA. The extent of interactions could be controlled by varying the amount of lignin added. These networks were thermally reversible and have highly tunable mechanical properties that were controlled by the extent of interactions. High level of mechanical properties could be achieved through the addition of lignin-poly(ester-amine) covalent cross-links. This study shows that the poly(ester-amine) structure plays an important role in the thermo-mechanical properties. By varying the spacer length between lignin and tertiary amine unit, materials with various thermo-mechanical properties were also obtained from the same parent polymer backbone.