A lignosulfonate-derived material was prepared by complexing polyethylene glycol (PEG)-grafted lignosulfonate (LS-g-PEG) with a cationic polyelectrolyte (PDADMACl). The mechanical property of this LS-g-PEG/PDADMACl complex was similar to those of the conventional unmodified-LS/PDADMACl complex, however, the addition of poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) improved the toughness of the LS-g-PEG complex more than seven-fold at the optimal composition (from 0.7 to 5.2 MJ/m³). This increase in toughness upon PAAc addition was not observed in the conventional unmodified-LS/PDADMACl complex and it was attributed to the synergistic effect of plasticization by the amorphous PEG component, as well as the formation of a rigid polyelectrolyte complex. In addition to better strain and toughness than other reported lignosulfonate-derived materials, the LS-g-PEG/PDADMACl/PAAc complex displayed a humidity-induced self-healing property; complete healing of mechanical properties was observed under optimal conditions. These good toughness and excellent self-healing properties may broaden the applications of lignin-derived materials as highly durable and damage-resistant materials.

通过将聚乙二醇 (PEG) 接枝的木质素磺酸盐 (LS- g -PEG) 与阳离子聚电解质 (PDADMACl)络合制备木质素磺酸盐衍生材料。这种 LS- g -PEG/PDADMACl 复合物的机械性能与传统的未改性-LS/PDADMACl 复合物的机械性能相似，但是，添加聚（丙烯酸）（PAAc）提高了 LS-g-PEG的韧性在最佳成分（从 0.7 到 5.2 MJ/m ³). 在传统的未改性-LS/PDADMACl 复合物中没有观察到添加 PAAc 后韧性的增加，这归因于非晶 PEG 组分增塑的协同效应，以及刚性聚电解质复合物的形成。除了比其他报道的木质素磺酸盐衍生材料更好的应变和韧性外，LS- g -PEG/PDADMACl/PAAc 复合物还显示出湿度诱导的自愈特性；在最佳条件下观察到机械性能的完全恢复。这些良好的韧性和优异的自愈性能可以拓宽木质素衍生材料作为高度耐用和抗损伤材料的应用。