A fiber-reinforced resin composition contains a resin and plant fibers dispersed in the resin. At least a part of the resin is in direct contact with at least a part of a surface of the plant fibers. Relation among r, rf, and f satisfies r<rf<f where r represents tensile strength of the resin, rf represents interfacial shear stress between the resin and the plant fibers, and f represents tensile strength of the plant fibers.

In some variations, the present invention provides an oil-resistant paperboard material coated with hydrophobic nanocellulose. The paperboard material is free of a fluorocarbon coating. In other variations, an oil-resistant paper is coated with hydrophobic nanocellulose and is free of a fluorocarbon coating. The hydrophobic nanocellulose may include lignin-coated cellulose nanofibrils, lignin-coated cellulose nanocrystals, or a combination thereof. A process for producing these materials is also provided, comprising: fractionating a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock in the presence of an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin, wherein a portion of the lignin deposits onto a surface of the cellulose-rich solids, thereby rendering the cellulose-rich solids at least partially hydrophobic; mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form hydrophobic nanocellulose; and coating a paper or paperboard material with the hydrophobic nanocellulose, to generate an oil-resistant paper or paperboard material.

An artificial timber comprises the following components in parts by weight: 35-50 parts of cellulose, 20-35 parts of hemicellulose and 15-35 parts of lignin, wherein the artificial timber has a density of 0.01-0.05 g/cm.sup.3. The preparing method comprises: (1) dissolving 15-35 parts by weight of lignin, 35-50 parts by weight of cellulose and 20-35 parts by weight of hemicellulose with an ionic liquid; (2) cleaning and replacing it with water to obtain a lignocellulose hydrogel; and (3) drying the lignocellulose hydrogel to obtain an artificial timber. The artificial timber prepared by the present invention is large in specific area, low in density, low in material energy consumption, moderate in condition and easy for operation. The artificial timber obtained by the present invention is regular in shape and is shaped like a sandy beige cylinder without obvious damage and deformation, which indicates that such artificial timber with high specific area has well molding capacity.

A lignin-based bioplastic material is disclosed including a lignin fraction and at least a biodegradable biopolymer, as well as processes for preparing the same and uses in agriculture. Also disclosed are items for agriculture at least partially made of the lignin-based bioplastic material, such as pots, pipes and mulch films.

An artificial timer and preparing method thereof. The artificial timber includes the following components in parts by weight: 35-50 parts of cellulose, 20-35 parts of hemicellulose and 15-35 parts of lignin, wherein the artificial timber has a density of 0.01-0.05 g/cm.sup.3. The preparing method includes: (1) dissolving 15-35 parts by weight of lignin, 35-50 parts by weight of cellulose and 20-35 parts by weight of hemicellulose with an ionic liquid; (2) cleaning and replacing it with water to obtain a lignocellulose hydrogel; and (3) drying the lignocellulose hydrogel to obtain an artificial timber. The prepared artificial timber is large in specific area, low in density, low in material energy consumption, moderate in condition and easy for operation. The obtained artificial timber is regular in shape and shaped like a sandy beige cylinder without obvious damage and deformation, which indicates that such artificial timber with high specific area has well molding capacity.

A plasticized terephthalate-based polyester blend comprising a terephthalate-based polyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, i.e., PET) homogeneously blended with a fatty acid or ester thereof, wherein said fatty acid or ester thereof is present in said polyester blend in an amount of 1-50 wt %. Also described herein is a method for producing a plasticized terephthalate-based polyester blend, the method comprising melt mixing a terephthalate-based polyester with a fatty acid or ester thereof at a temperature in a range of 230-250 C. to produce said polyester blend, wherein said fatty acid or ester thereof is present in said polyester blend in an amount of 1-50 wt % and is homogeneously blended with said terephthalate-based polyester.

Modified lignin products, processes for making them, and their use to produce rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams are disclosed. The processes comprise heating a lignin source with a nitrogen source and a starved concentration of a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde to give a reaction mixture comprising a Mannich condensation product, neutralizing the reaction mixture, and isolating the modified lignin product. The process is performed at a mass ratio of lignin source to nitrogen source within the range of 1:1 to 1:5 and at a molar ratio of nitrogen source to C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde within the range of 3.5:1 to 1:1. Polyol blends and performance additives that contain the modified lignin products are described. Rigid foams that process well and incorporate up to 60 wt. %, based on the amount of polyol component, of the modified lignin contribute to excellent flame retardancy and low-temperature R-value performance.

A tyre (100) for vehicle wheels is described comprising at least one structural element comprising a vulcanized elastomeric material obtained by vulcanizing a vulcanizable elastomeric composition comprising a predispersion of an elastomeric diene polymer and lignin obtained by a process comprising: a) providing in a dispersant liquid a first lignin suspension having a value of a median particle diameter D50 equal to or less than 10 microns; b) providing a second suspension comprising lignin and elastomeric diene polymer latex by mixing the first lignin suspension obtained from step a) with the latex; and c) removing the dispersant liquid from the second suspension comprising lignin and elastomeric diene polymer latex.

The present invention relates to lignin compositions and methods for producing lignin composite materials. Composites of this invention substantially reduce or eliminate odor emanating from lignin that would otherwise be present.

A visibly transparent, homogeneous UV-blocking cellulose nanocrystal/lignin nanocomposite film and a method of making the same. The film is made by dispersing cellulose nanocrystals and lignin in an aqueous, alkaline solution to yield a dispersion; casting the dispersion onto a substrate; and evaporating the aqueous, alkaline solution to yield a homogeneous, visibly transparent film that at least partially absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation.