Jang, Minjeong Park, Junsang Choi, Jiho Kim, Sung-Soo 2025-03-22T14:00:18Z 2025-03-22T14:00:18Z 2025-03-19 2025-02 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/152015 Although previous work demonstrated that the thermostabilization of fatty-acid-functionalized lignin (FAFL) can be effectively accelerated by UV irradiation, utilizing FAFL as a melt-spinnable carbon fiber precursor has presented a significant challenge: the solidification of lignin melts before they can be spun. This phenomenon arises from the uncontrollably rapid rheological transition of molten lignin from a predominantly viscous state to an elastic one. To overcome this problem, in this study, stearic acid (SA) was employed for both the chemical modification and plasticization of lignin precursors. Stearic acid-functionalized lignin (SAFL) was homogeneously blended with SA, followed by melt spinning, electron beam irradiation (EBI), and thermal treatments. SA containing an octadecyl group effectively plasticized SAFL to form plasticized SAFL (SLS) melts at lower temperatures compared to pristine SAFL. Notably, even after prolonged heating (similar to 2 h) at the spinning temperature, the predominantly viscous state of SLS was maintained without the formation of cross-links among SAFL macromolecular precursors. Moreover, EBI-treated SLS fibers were more rapidly thermostabilized without experiencing melt deformation and subsequently converted to carbon fibers with measurable mechanical properties (tensile strength = 0.74 GPa, tensile modulus = 65 GPa). English American Chemical Society Plasticized Melt Spinning of Lignin Precursor Fibers and Carbonization Assisted by Electron Beam Irradiation Article 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c08229 1 ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, v.13, no.4, pp.1617 - 1627 ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 13 4 1617 1627 N scie scopus 001399616200001 2-s2.0-85215680547 Chemistry, Multidisciplinary Green & Sustainable Science & Technology Engineering, Chemical Chemistry Science & Technology - Other Topics Engineering Article CARBON-FIBERS THERMAL STABILIZATION DEPOLYMERIZATION FABRICATION CONVERSION lignin stearic acid plasticizedmelt-spinning electron beam carbon fiber