Lignin-liquid crystalline elastomeric composites for shape memory applications and their thermomechanical properties

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are stimuli-responsive materials with potential use in shape memory applications. Though particularly suited for shape memory, the LCEs however have some drawbacks such as low shape fixity (Rf) and slow recovery time. To overcome these limitations, new lignin-fil...

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Main Authors: Peerawat Prathumrat, Mostafa Nikzad, Elnaz Hajizadeh, Manunya Okhawilai, Igor Sbarski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Budapest University of Technology and Economics 2023-01-01
Series:eXPRESS Polymer Letters
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Online Access:http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0012145&mi=cd
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author Peerawat Prathumrat
Mostafa Nikzad
Elnaz Hajizadeh
Manunya Okhawilai
Igor Sbarski
author_facet Peerawat Prathumrat
Mostafa Nikzad
Elnaz Hajizadeh
Manunya Okhawilai
Igor Sbarski
author_sort Peerawat Prathumrat
collection DOAJ
description Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are stimuli-responsive materials with potential use in shape memory applications. Though particularly suited for shape memory, the LCEs however have some drawbacks such as low shape fixity (Rf) and slow recovery time. To overcome these limitations, new lignin-filled elastomeric liquid crystalline (ELC) composite materials were fabricated. The lignin used is a by-product of Kraft pulping process, which was obtained from renewable resources abundant in nature. Here, we show that the aromatic structure of lignin increases the netpoints density at the microscopic level in the ELC composite systems. Shape memory effects are enhanced by incorporating up to only 7 wt% of lignin, resulting in an Rf of 97% for the composites. Concurrently, these composites were able to maintain their shape recovery (Rr) of nearly 100%. The recovery time of the composites reduces with increasing lignin content due to the higher elastic energy released from the netpoints based on the lignin structure. The ELC composites with 7 wt% lignin could fully recover within 70 s, while the neat LCE counterpart took 100 s. Morphological features of dispersed lignin shows that even without surface modification and only a moderate quality of dispersion in LCE matrix, both shape memory and dynamic mechanical properties of the resultant composites can be significantly improved.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1788-618X
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publishDate 2023-01-01
publisher Budapest University of Technology and Economics
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series eXPRESS Polymer Letters
spelling doaj-art-fa52ec94ddee44859af28aceff7a35ee2025-08-20T03:39:22ZengBudapest University of Technology and EconomicseXPRESS Polymer Letters1788-618X2023-01-0117110411710.3144/expresspolymlett.2023.8Lignin-liquid crystalline elastomeric composites for shape memory applications and their thermomechanical propertiesPeerawat PrathumratMostafa NikzadElnaz HajizadehManunya OkhawilaiIgor SbarskiLiquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are stimuli-responsive materials with potential use in shape memory applications. Though particularly suited for shape memory, the LCEs however have some drawbacks such as low shape fixity (Rf) and slow recovery time. To overcome these limitations, new lignin-filled elastomeric liquid crystalline (ELC) composite materials were fabricated. The lignin used is a by-product of Kraft pulping process, which was obtained from renewable resources abundant in nature. Here, we show that the aromatic structure of lignin increases the netpoints density at the microscopic level in the ELC composite systems. Shape memory effects are enhanced by incorporating up to only 7 wt% of lignin, resulting in an Rf of 97% for the composites. Concurrently, these composites were able to maintain their shape recovery (Rr) of nearly 100%. The recovery time of the composites reduces with increasing lignin content due to the higher elastic energy released from the netpoints based on the lignin structure. The ELC composites with 7 wt% lignin could fully recover within 70 s, while the neat LCE counterpart took 100 s. Morphological features of dispersed lignin shows that even without surface modification and only a moderate quality of dispersion in LCE matrix, both shape memory and dynamic mechanical properties of the resultant composites can be significantly improved.http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0012145&mi=cdsmart polymersshape memory elastomers lignin composites
spellingShingle Peerawat Prathumrat
Mostafa Nikzad
Elnaz Hajizadeh
Manunya Okhawilai
Igor Sbarski
Lignin-liquid crystalline elastomeric composites for shape memory applications and their thermomechanical properties
eXPRESS Polymer Letters
smart polymers
shape memory elastomers
lignin
composites
title Lignin-liquid crystalline elastomeric composites for shape memory applications and their thermomechanical properties
title_full Lignin-liquid crystalline elastomeric composites for shape memory applications and their thermomechanical properties
title_fullStr Lignin-liquid crystalline elastomeric composites for shape memory applications and their thermomechanical properties
title_full_unstemmed Lignin-liquid crystalline elastomeric composites for shape memory applications and their thermomechanical properties
title_short Lignin-liquid crystalline elastomeric composites for shape memory applications and their thermomechanical properties
title_sort lignin liquid crystalline elastomeric composites for shape memory applications and their thermomechanical properties
topic smart polymers
shape memory elastomers
lignin
composites
url http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0012145&mi=cd
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AT mostafanikzad ligninliquidcrystallineelastomericcompositesforshapememoryapplicationsandtheirthermomechanicalproperties
AT elnazhajizadeh ligninliquidcrystallineelastomericcompositesforshapememoryapplicationsandtheirthermomechanicalproperties
AT manunyaokhawilai ligninliquidcrystallineelastomericcompositesforshapememoryapplicationsandtheirthermomechanicalproperties
AT igorsbarski ligninliquidcrystallineelastomericcompositesforshapememoryapplicationsandtheirthermomechanicalproperties