Synthesis and characterization of polymer biocomposites with lignin

A new method of synthesis of polymer biocomposites with lignin using the photopolymerization method has been proposed. Bisphenol A glycerolate (1 glycerol/phenol) diacrylate (BAGDA) was used as a main monomer and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) as a reactive diluent. Lignin (L) was applied as an eco-filler. The influence of the increasing lignin content (0; 2.5; 5; 10; 20% w/w) on the properties of the obtained biocomposites was investigated. The chemical structure of biomaterials was investigated by the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR/FT-IR) method while the thermal properties were studied by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG). Their hardness was measured by the Shore D method. Incorporation of the biopolymer into the structure of polymer composites could be a promising alternative to synthetic materials and would contribute to better lignin utilization. The results of the study are of practical importance in prospective applications of biocomposites with lignin.