Engineering Plastics from Lignin XIV. Characterization of Chain-Extended Hydroxypropyl Lignins

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Abstract
Three series of chain-extended hydroxypropyl lignins (CEEQLs), prepared fran oqanosolv and kraft lignin, were examined regarding their chemical, molecular weight and them1 characteristics. Results showed that the molar substitution (MS) of propylene oxide, which was defined as the number of propoxy repeat units which comprise the chain attached to a single reactive site on lignin, varied and affected copolymer properties. As the MS increased from 1 to 7.2, the number average molecular weight (Mg) increased while the glass transition temperature (Tg) decreased. The actual Mg observed by GPC exceeded however that expected on the basis of mass gain by derivatization. This was attributed to changes in the apparent hydrodynamic volume in relation to MS. The change in Tg with increasing MS followed the Gordon-Taylor relationship. Differences in the chemical composition of the original lignin (organosolv or Kraft) were not obvious as the lignin content of the copolymer decreased below 50%.