Understanding the influence of key parameters on the stabilisation of cellulose-lignin composite fibres

The high cost of carbon fibre continues to limit its use in industries like automotive, construction and energy. Since the cost is closely linked to the precursor, considerable research has focussed on the use of low-cost alternatives. A promising candidate is a composite fibre consisting of blended cellulose and lignin, which has the added benefit of being derived from sustainable resources. The benefits of blending cellulose and lignin reduce some of the negative aspects of converting single component cellulose and lignin fibres to carbon fibre, although the production from such a blend, remains largely underdeveloped. In this study, the effects of stabilisation temperature and the stabilisation process of the blended fibres are explored. Moreover, the viscoelastic properties of the cellulose-lignin fibre are investigated by DMA for the first time. Finally, the cause of fusion in the stabilisation is adressed and solved by applying a spin finish.