US 12,480,254 B2
Extraction of delignified, cellulose-based fibers from natural plant material, and materials incorporating such fibers
Liangbing Hu, Rockville, MD (US); Chaoji Chen, Sykesville, MD (US); Zhihan Li, College Park, MD (US); and Jianguo Li, College Park, MD (US)
Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK, College Park, MD (US)
Appl. No. 17/919,125
Filed by UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK, College Park, MD (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 21, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/028333
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 14, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/216663, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 28, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/065,994, filed on Aug. 14, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/013,401, filed on Apr. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0160141 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. D21C 3/26 (2006.01); C04B 18/24 (2006.01); C08J 5/24 (2006.01); C08L 29/04 (2006.01); C08L 97/02 (2006.01); D21C 3/00 (2006.01); D21C 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC D21C 3/26 (2013.01) [C04B 18/248 (2013.01); C08J 5/245 (2021.05); C08J 5/248 (2021.05); C08L 29/04 (2013.01); C08L 97/02 (2013.01); D21C 3/003 (2013.01); D21C 3/006 (2013.01); D21C 3/022 (2013.01); C08J 2363/00 (2013.01); C08J 2401/02 (2013.01); C08L 2205/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
 
1. A composite material comprising:
a structural matrix; and
a plurality of delignified, cellulose-based macrofibers disposed within the structural matrix, each cellulose-based macrofiber having been chemically-extracted intact from a matrix of lignin and hemicellulose that joined microfibrils of one or more macrofibers to parenchyma cells in a microstructure of a respective piece of natural bamboo,
wherein a content of lignin in each cellulose-based macrofiber is less than or equal to 4 wt %,
each cellulose-based macrofiber is separate and distinct from any other cellulose-based macrofiber extracted from the natural bamboo,
each cellulose-based macrofiber has a moisture content less than or equal to 10 wt % and exhibits a tensile strength of at least 1 GPa, and
each cellulose-based macrofiber has a length of at least 5 cm, a diameter of at least 100 μm, and a density of at least 1 g/cm3.