Influence of Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) Percent and Lignin Type on the Properties of Lignin/PEO Blend Filament

Three types of lignin/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blend filaments with different PEO percent were prepared by melt spinning. The effects of PEO percent and lignin type on the morphology, mechanical property, and thermostability of the blend filaments were systematically studied. The morphologies of the filaments were observed by optical microscope. The mechanical properties of the filaments were measured with an Instron model Isx. The results showed that the effect of lignin/PEO blending ratio was not a simple function of PEO content. The flexibility of the lignin/PEO filament increases as thermal stability decreases. A 15% PEO content produces the best combination of filament performance, such as uniform diameter, smooth surface, adequate mechanical property, and thermal stability.