MODIFIED LIGNIN/PLA COMPOSITES FOR PACKAGING APPLICATION

The present work proposes modification reactions such as oxypropylation of lignin hydroxyl groups to boost the hydrophobicity of the lignin polymer. Modified lignin/PLA composite with different weight percentage compositions were produced through a mixing and injection molding process. The produced composites mechanical (tensile, Young’s modulus), thermal (Glass transition temperature) and chemical (type of interaction and bonding between the lignin and PLA matrix) properties were examined. The weight percentage of modified lignin in the composites was optimized based on the resulting properties.Pages 93-97