Lignin-dynamic networks break the strength–toughness trade-off in thermoplastic elastomers
Peng Zhao, Tianwei Wu, Jinsong Sun, Meng Liu, Qi Tang, Zechun Ren, Yongzhuang Liu, Haipeng Yu · 2026
Read Lignin-dynamic networks break the strength–toughness trade-off in thermoplastic elastomers by Peng Zhao, Tianwei Wu, Jinsong Sun, Meng Liu, Qi Tang, Zechun Ren, Yongzhuang Liu, Haipeng Yu (2026) in the Tower of Babel, a free online library of public-domain works preserved in clean, searchable text. No sign-up. The full text is served as a plain-text file at a predictable URL, where text is present: https://antarctic-labs.com/tower-of-babel/pmc-13578263.txt.
Description
Peng Zhao and co-authors use lignin, a wood polymer, to break a classic trade-off in rubbery plastics, in this 2026 study. Thermoplastic elastomers usually gain strength only by losing toughness. The team extended the polymer chains with lignin, whose stiff rings and many bonding sites act as network nodes. Those nodes sort the material's phases and weave a shifting web of hydrogen bonds.
At the best lignin share, the material reached record strength and toughness together for its class. Spectroscopy and simulation showed bonds breaking and reforming across scales, soaking up energy. The network also gave fiber composites strong damage tolerance and spring-back. The authors offer bio-based aromatic nodes as a general recipe for high-performance elastomers.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Peng Zhao, Tianwei Wu, Jinsong Sun, Meng Liu, Qi Tang, Zechun Ren, Yongzhuang Liu, Haipeng Yu |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 51 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |