The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a lignin prepolymer, comprising (a) providing a lignin; (b) reacting the lignin with a hydroxyl functionalization reagent to provide a lignin derivative containing at least one hydroxyl group, said hydroxyl group being obtained as a result of the interaction between the lignin and the hydroxyl functionalization reagent (c) reacting the lignin derivative obtained in step (b) with a functionalization reagent selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, fatty acid derivatives and mixtures thereof capable to react with the lignin derivative resulting in a covalent bond between the fatty acid and/or or the fatty acid derivative and the lignin derivative.

A modified lignin reinforced rubber is obtained by subjecting a lignin to composite modification by a compound containing a carbon-carbon double bond, a compound containing a sulfur element and a compound capable of blocking a hydroxyl; the lignin is modified with the compound containing the carbon-carbon double bond, and the contained double bond and an olefin in the rubber generate a bonding effect, which improves a binding force between the lignin and the rubber; furthermore, by modifying the lignin with the compound containing the sulfur element, the lignin contains a certain amount of the element sulfur, which improves an interaction between the lignin and the rubber, improves properties of the rubber, and reduces the use of a vulcanizing agent, and further increases a replacement amount of the lignin to carbon black.

A modified lignin reinforced rubber is obtained by subjecting a lignin to composite modification by a compound containing a carbon-carbon double bond, a compound containing a sulfur element and a compound capable of blocking a hydroxyl; the lignin is modified with the compound containing the carbon-carbon double bond, and the contained double bond and an olefin in the rubber generate a bonding effect, which improves a binding force between the lignin and the rubber; furthermore, by modifying the lignin with the compound containing the sulfur element, the lignin contains a certain amount of the element sulfur, which improves an interaction between the lignin and the rubber, improves properties of the rubber, and reduces the use of a vulcanizing agent, and further increases a replacement amount of the lignin to carbon black.

The present invention relates to a method of draining water comprising the steps of: providing a water drainage device, wherein the water drainage device comprises man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured aqueous binder composition; positioning the water drainage device in contact with the ground, wherein the water drainage device absorbs water and releases water to a recipient wherein the aqueous binder composition prior to curing comprises; a component (i) in form of one or more oxidized lignins; a component (ii) in form of one or more cross-linkers.

The disclosed technology provides improved compositions and methods for dispersion and drying of nanocellulose, for polymer composites and other systems. Some variations provide a nanocellulose-dispersion concentrate comprising nanocellulose and a dispersion/drying agent selected for compatibility with the nanocellulose and with the nanocellulose-containing composite product, wherein the dispersion/drying agent is selected from the group consisting of waxes, polyolefins, olefin-maleic anhydride copolymers, olefin-acrylic acid copolymers, polyols, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, polyol-glyceride esters, polydimethylsiloxanes, polydimethylsiloxane-alkyl esters, polyacrylamides, starches, cellulose derivatives, particulates, and combinations or reaction products thereof, and wherein the nanocellulose-dispersion concentrate is in solid form (e.g., a powder) or liquid form. Other variations provide a nanocellulose-dispersion masterbatch (e.g., pellets) comprising the nanocellulose-dispersion concentrate and a carrier material. Other variations provide a nanocellulose-containing composite including the nanocellulose-dispersion masterbatch or concentrate and a matrix material. Processes of making and using the disclosed compositions are described.

The disclosed technology provides improved compositions and methods for dispersion and drying of nanocellulose, for polymer composites and other systems. Some variations provide a nanocellulose-dispersion concentrate comprising nanocellulose and a dispersion/drying agent selected for compatibility with the nanocellulose and with the nanocellulose-containing composite product, wherein the dispersion/drying agent is selected from the group consisting of waxes, polyolefins, olefin-maleic anhydride copolymers, olefin-acrylic acid copolymers, polyols, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, polyol-glyceride esters, polydimethylsiloxanes, polydimethylsiloxane-alkyl esters, polyacrylamides, starches, cellulose derivatives, particulates, and combinations or reaction products thereof, and wherein the nanocellulose-dispersion concentrate is in solid form (e.g., a powder) or liquid form. Other variations provide a nanocellulose-dispersion masterbatch (e.g., pellets) comprising the nanocellulose-dispersion concentrate and a carrier material. Other variations provide a nanocellulose-containing composite including the nanocellulose-dispersion masterbatch or concentrate and a matrix material. Processes of making and using the disclosed compositions are described.

A flame-retardant cable includes at least one core comprising a conductor and at least one protecting layer surrounding the core. The protecting layer is made from a low smoke zero halogen (LSOH) flame-retardant polymer composition comprising at least 70 phr of a polyethylene homopolymer or copolymer having a density lower than 0.90 g/cm.sup.3 as a halogen-free polymeric base, and: a) 100 to 800 phr of at least one metal hydroxide; and b) at least 10 phr of a tannin.

A flame-retardant cable includes at least one core comprising a conductor and at least one protecting layer surrounding the core. The protecting layer is made from a low smoke zero halogen (LSOH) flame-retardant polymer composition comprising at least 70 phr of a polyethylene homopolymer or copolymer having a density lower than 0.90 g/cm.sup.3 as a halogen-free polymeric base, and: a) 100 to 800 phr of at least one metal hydroxide; and b) at least 10 phr of a tannin.

The invention relates to a method for producing a crosslinked lignin in particle form using a hydrothermal treatment of a liquid, which is made of black liquor, contains lignin and a crosslinker or a precursor thereof, and has an electrical activity ranging from more than 15 mS/cm, preferably more than 25 mS/cm, to 400 mS/cm, and to the crosslinked lignin produced using the aforementioned method. The invention additionally relates to crosslinked lignin particles which have a glass transition temperature Tg of at least 160° C. or no glass transition temperature and an STSA surface area of at least 10 m.sup.2/g and to rubber articles, in particular technical rubber articles or tires, which comprise crosslinked lignin particles as a filler.

A method of manufacturing a biodegradable bioplastic includes preparing a plant derived polymer base, preparing bamboo extracts from bamboo wood, and combining the bamboo extracts with the polymer base, optionally by heating and mixing the polymer base in a liquid form together with the bamboo extracts in a liquid form. The bamboo extracts may be applied as a surface treatment of the polymer base, with the polymer base in a solid form. The plant derived polymer base may include water, potassium bicarbonate, glycerol and starch, such as arrowroot. The plant derived polymer base and the bamboo extracts may be combined at ambient temperature, heated, cooled, reheated and recooled and solidified.