Ut-battelle, Inc.

University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Ngoc Anh Nguyen

Amit Kumar Naskar

David P Harper

Kokouvi M Akato

A solid polymer blend material comprising: (i) a lignin-acrylonitrile component containing a homogeneous blend of a lignin component and an acrylonitrile-containing rubber component; and (ii) a styrene-containing thermoplastic component that is non-elastomeric; wherein components (i) and (ii) are homogeneously dispersed in the polymer blend material. Methods for producing the blend material are also described. Methods for producing objects made of the blend material by melt extrusion are also described, comprising: (a) melt blending components (i) and (ii) to form a polymer blend in which components (i) and (ii) are homogeneously blended, wherein the polymer blend exhibits a melt viscosity of no more than 2000 Pa&#xb7;s at a shear rate of 100-1000 sand when heated to a temperature of no more than 240&#xb0; C.; and (b) forming an object made of said polymer blend material.

Lignin-based polymers with enhanced melt extrusion ability

A plasticized terephthalate-based polyester blend comprising a terephthalate-based polyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, i.e., PET) homogeneously blended with a fatty acid or ester thereof, wherein said fatty acid or ester thereof is present in said polyester blend in an amount of 1-50 wt %. Also described herein is a method for producing a plasticized terephthalate-based polyester blend, the method comprising melt mixing a terephthalate-based polyester with a fatty acid or ester thereof at a temperature in a range of 230-250&#xb0; C. to produce said polyester blend, wherein said fatty acid or ester thereof is present in said polyester blend in an amount of 1-50 wt % and is homogeneously blended with said terephthalate-based polyester.

Plasticized terephthalate-based polyester blends containing fatty acids or esters thereof

A solid polymer blend material comprising: (i) lignin; and (ii) a polyamide having a melting point of no more than 240&#xb0; C. and which is below the decomposition temperature of the lignin; wherein said lignin is homogeneously dispersed in said polyamide. Methods for producing the blend material are also described. Methods for producing objects made of the blend material by melt extrusion are also described, comprising: (a) melt blending components (i) and (ii) to form a polymer blend in which components (i) and (ii) are homogeneously blended, wherein the polymer blend exhibits a melt viscosity of no more than 2000 Pa&#xb7;s at a shear rate of 100-1000 sand when heated to a temperature of no more than 240&#xb0; C.; and; (b) forming an object made of said polymer blend material.

An object comprising: a blend of (i) a phenol-containing polymer and (ii) a nitrile butadiene rubber; wherein the phenol-containing polymer is present in an amount of at least 5 wt % and up to about 95 wt % by total weight of components (i) and (ii). The object may further contain an electrically conducting component dispersed within the blend or on a surface of the blend. Also described is a method of thermal-activated reversible mechanical deformation of the object by (i) deforming the object at a first temperature, which is at or above the glass transition temperature of the object, and applying a stress on the object; (ii) fixing the deformed state by cooling the object to a second temperature of no more than 0&#xb0; C. while under stress, and removing the stress; and (iii) recovering the object to the original shape by raising the temperature of the object to the first temperature.

Growing community of inventors

Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America

Ngoc Anh Nguyen