Carbon fibre compositions comprising lignin derivatives

• US 10,533,030 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2016
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzano Canada Inc. (Suzano S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Suzano Canada Inc. (Suzano S.A.)
• Inventors: Berlin, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Hill, Nicholas E
• Application Number:
  US15/177,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20160280730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C07G 1/00 Lignin; Lignin derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: C08H 6/00 Macromolecular compounds derived from lignin, e.g. tannins, humic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08H 8/00 Macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials pretreatment thereof B27N
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 97/005 Lignin
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 9/17 from lignin

Abstract

The present disclosure provides derivatives of native lignin suitable for production of carbon fibres wherein the derivatives of native lignin have a certain alkoxy content and/or a certain carbon content. The present lignin derivatives can have acceptable spinnability performance characteristics for producing carbon fibres having acceptable tensile strengths and acceptable modulus of elasticity.

Claims

1. A method of producing a carbon fibre composition, comprising the steps of:

a. melt spinning a lignin derivative into fibres, wherein the lignin derivative is a self-precipitated lignin derivative or a precipitated lignin derivative obtained from biomass by a pulping process and has a carbon content of 66.5 wt % or greater;

b. stabilizing the fibres; and

c. carbonizing the fibres.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step a. further comprises blending the lignin derivative with polyacrylonitrile prior to melt spinning.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lignin derivative has a carbon content of 68.0 wt. % or greater and an alkoxy content of 0.45 mmol/g or greater.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lignin derivative has a carbon content of 69.5 wt. % or greater.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein an alkoxy content of the lignin derivative is 0.45 mmol/g to 3.75 mmol/g.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lignin derivative is recovered during or after the pulping process.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises hardwood biomass.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lignin derivative is derived from softwood biomass.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lignin derivative is derived from annual fibre biomass.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lignin derivative is derived from biomass comprising Populus spp., Eucalyptus spp., Acacia ssp., or combinations/hybrids thereof.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lignin derivative is biomass comprises Populus tremuloides, Eucalyptus globulus, Acacia dealbata, or combinations/hybrids thereof.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises pine, spruce or combinations/hybrids thereof.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises Pinus radiata, Pinus taeda, BC spruce, or combinations/hybrids thereof.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biomass comprises wheat straw, bagasse, corn cobs, or combinations/hybrids thereof.