VITO and Kaneka Belgium to jointly research creation of lignin-based polymer

December 6, 2022 |

In Belgium, researchers from Biorizon co-initiator VITO and chemical company Kaneka Belgium joined forces to conduct research to create a lignin-based polymer that outperformed its fossil-based counterpart in terms of thermal stability and UV-blocking properties.

Kaneka liquid polymers are widely recognized as the premium choice of base resins for producing high-quality sealants, adhesives, and coatings. Their unique properties enable products that contain Kaneka’s polymers to deliver outstanding performance for a wide variety of markets, including construction, industrial, transportation, flooring, waterproofing, DIY, and specialty markets.

The research shows that high performance, partly bio-based MS polymer products can be obtained by blending MS polymer with molecularly engineered lignin-based fragments. The lignin fragments can be functionalized to be either non-reactive or reactive with MS polymer. The mechanical properties and thermal stability of the products are influenced both by the molar mass of the lignin fragment and by the type of functionalization used. Particularly the reactive lignin dimer shows a high potential for strongly improving the thermal stability of MS polymer-based systems, which results in the possibility to broaden the application area of MS polymer. In addition to the increased thermal stability, other functional advantages that could potentially be expected from tailored lignin additives include UV stability, anti-oxidant activity or even flame retardancy.

Category: Research

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