2022-10-25 スウェーデン王国・王立工科大学（KTH)
高い繊維含有率を達成するために、研究者たちは、高分子化学と炭素繊維複合材料に使用されているのと同様のプロセス技術を組み合わせた。
すべては、安価で入手可能な原料に基づいている。分解生成物は環境にも無害で、再利用が可能である。
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.kth.se/en/om/nyheter/centrala-nyheter/wood-based-plastic-may-enable-circular-home-furnishings-and-building-materials-1.1202336
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-33283-z
新規ポリエステルオリゴマーの重合による高強度・高分解能リグノセルロース系バイオコンポジット Highly reinforced and degradable lignocellulose biocomposites by polymerization of new polyester oligomers
Erfan Oliaei,Peter Olsén,Tom Lindström & Lars A. Berglund
Nature Communications Published:27 September 2022
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33283-z
Abstract
Unbleached wood fibers and nanofibers are environmentally friendly bio-based candidates for material production, in particular, as reinforcements in polymer matrix biocomposites due to their low density and potential as carbon sink during the materials production phase. However, producing high reinforcement content biocomposites with degradable or chemically recyclable matrices is troublesome. Here, we address this issue with a new concept for facile and scalable in-situ polymerization of polyester matrices based on functionally balanced oligomers in pre-formed lignocellulosic networks. The idea enabled us to create high reinforcement biocomposites with well-dispersed mechanically undamaged fibers or nanocellulose. These degradable biocomposites have much higher mechanical properties than analogs in the literature. Reinforcement geometry (fibers at 30 µm or fibrils at 10–1000 nm diameter) influenced the polymerization and degradation of the polyester matrix. Overall, this work opens up new pathways toward environmentally benign materials in the context of a circular bioeconomy.
