News

17-11-2022

Biorizon teams up with Kaneka to create a sustainable premium polymer

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.

Luc Peeters, R&D Manager at Kaneka Belgium: “In 2018, we joined forces with Biorizon co-initiator VITO to develop an improved and bio-based version of Kaneka MS polymer™ based on lignin. Known for its solvent-free and extremely low VOC emissions, Kaneka MS Polymer™ has a proven track record in green innovation. This research opportunity to replace fossil raw materials with lignin demonstrates our ongoing commitment to offering the next generation of bio-based Kaneka MS Polymers.”

Research: Improved thermal stability and UV-blocking properties

Researchers from Biorizon co-initiator VITO and chemical company Kaneka Belgium joined forces to conduct research to create a lignin-based polymer with premium properties. This was published in in the leading journal Biomacromolecules (impact score 6.60) and in adhesion ADHESIVES + SEALANTS - The Trade Journal for Adhesives and Sealants.

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.

Contact

Do you possess a bio-refinery and are you looking for technologies to valorize lignin into valuable applications? Or are you a manufacturer of construction materials that wants to enhance functionalities? Then please contact Biorizon’s Lignin Horizon manager Karolien Vanbroekhoven at  karolien.vanbroekhoven@vito.be or +32 (0)4 93 51 42 70.