US 11,884,824 B2
Thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer/lignin blends
Christopher D. Webb, Knoxville, TN (US); Adam A. McCall, Knoxville, TN (US); William M. Sanford, Knoxville, TN (US); Deborah Burkwit, Knoxville, TN (US); and Darren Baker, Knoxville, TN (US)
Assigned to Prisma Renewable Composites, LLC, Knoxville, TN (US)
Filed by Prisma Renewable Composites, LLC, Knoxville, TN (US)
Filed on Apr. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/848,123.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/833,973, filed on Apr. 15, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0325311 A1, Oct. 15, 2020
Int. Cl. C08L 9/06 (2006.01); C08L 55/02 (2006.01); C08L 97/00 (2006.01)
CPC C08L 9/06 (2013.01) [C08L 55/02 (2013.01); C08L 97/005 (2013.01); C08L 2205/035 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
 
1. A thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer/lignin blend comprising:
(i) an amount of lignin, wherein the lignin is selected from a kraft lignin, a sulfite lignin, a sulfur-free lignin, or combinations thereof and sourced from a hardwood or softwood feedstock;
(ii) an amount of a thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer, wherein the thermoplastic acrylonitrile containing copolymer is a first acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer; and
(iii) an amount of a compatibilizing agent, wherein the compatibilizing agent includes at least a dianhydride, and a second acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene copolymer having a butadiene content of at least 50% by weight, which is a different copolymer than the first acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and
wherein the lignin is present in an amount from about 5 to 50 wt % by total weight of components (i) and (ii), components (i) and (ii) are present together in an amount from 75 wt % or greater by weight of the total weight of the blend, and the compatibilizing agent comprises from about 0.5 to 25% by weight of the total weight of the blend.