Kategorie: ‘Publication’
New publication:Resistance of crosslinkers in alkaline hydrogels
As part of our work on highly alkaline diallyldimethylammonium hydroxide (DADMAOH) hydrogels for the repair of mineral building materials, T. Mrohs and O. Weichold analysed the resistance of the four crosslinkers shown above. Classic amides such as N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) decompose by slow hydrolysis, which leads to liquefaction of the gels. N,N,N′,N′-tetraallylpiperazinium dibromide (1b) decomposes surprisingly quickly due to chemical instabilities. In contrast, hydrogels with tetraallylammonium bromide (1a) or N,N,N′,N′,N′-tetraallyltrimethylene dipiperidinedibromide (1c) show no traces of degradation products even after 28 days at 60 °C. This corresponds to a shelf life of over 15 months at room temperature – sufficient for applications such as realkalisation or chloride extraction. These results show that such innovative materials are ideal for long-lasting construction applications.
T. B. Mrohs, O. Weichold
Hydrolytic Stability of Crosslinked, Highly Alkaline Diallyldimethylammonium Hydroxide Hydrogels
Gels 2022, 8, 669. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8100669
New publication:
Gels as multifunctional repair materials
Alkaline hydrogels based on diallyldimethylammonium hydroxide (DADMAOH) can fulfil 3 important functions of repair materials for cracked concrete: Sealing of the crack to prevent water leakage, re-alkalisation of carbonated cement paste, which restores the alkali buffer, and re-passivation of steel reinforcement, which prevents corrosion of the reinforcement. In a proof-of-concept experiment, for example, the sealing properties of the gel were successfully tested on a cracked test specimen, where no leakage was observed under a water pressure of 5 metres for 28 days (WTA test W2.1-E).
A. Jung, O. Weichold
A 3-in-1 alkaline gel for the crack injection in cement-based materials with simultaneous corrosion protection and re-passivation of crack-crossing steel rebars
Construction Building Mater. 2022, 344, 128092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128092
New publication
New crosslinkers for diallylammonium gels
N,N’-methylene bisacrylamide (BIS) is a very popular crosslinker for radical polymerisation in water. It is highly reactive but tends to undergo alkaline hydrolysis and suffers from low solubility. This study shows that BIS forms only inhomogeneous networks with slowly polymerising systems such as N,N-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC). As a result, gels with very low cross-linking densities, i.e. high swelling capacities, disintegrate during the swelling test. Coherent, i.e. highly cross-linked gels are not accessible due to the solubility limit. A promising alternative are multivalent tetraallyl compounds, such as tetraallylammonium bromide, N,N,N‘,N’-tetraallylpiperazinium dibromide and N,N,N‘,N’-tetraallyltrimethylenedipiperidinedibromide. In contrast to BIS, the copolymerisation with DADMAC is statistic. However, gelation with the new tetraallyl crosslinkers is much slower than with BIS and follows the order TAPB < TAMPB < TAAB, but the differences become significantly smaller as the content increases. At low contents, all three enable the production of gels with high swelling capacities of up to 360 g/g.
T. B. Mrohs, O.Weichold
Multivalent Allylammonium-Based Cross-Linkers for the Synthesis of Homogeneous, Highly Swelling Diallyldimethylammonium Chloride Hydrogels
Gels 2022, 8, 100. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels8020100
External impact
The publication ‘Alkaline hydrogels as ion-conducting coupling material for electrochemical chloride extraction’ by A. Jung, A. Faulhaber and O. Weichold in the journal Materials and Corrosion is one of the most downloaded articles in 2021. More.
New publication:
Springs replace carbon black in rubber
Most elastomers (‘rubber’) used today are based on sulphur as a cross-linking agent and carbon black from fossil raw materials to change the mechanical properties. Here we show that natural keratin, e.g. from poultry feathers, can be a very promising substitute for both. Feathers are not only tough, but also contain a relevant amount of sulphur in the form of disulphide bridges. These can be activated under vulcanisation conditions and then covalently bind to EPDM rubber to form a cross-linked network. The presence of spring waste increases the tensile and compressive strength as well as the hardness and reduces the rebound resilience. Due to their high nitrogen content of approximately 17%, the springs also improve the thermal stability of the composite, shifting the main degradation step from 400°C to 470°C and significantly slowing down decomposition. As elastomers are a large market and springs in particular are a voluminous waste, the combination of the two offers enormous ecological and economic prospects.
M. Brenner, O. Weichold
Poultry Feather Waste as Bio-Based Cross-Linking Additive for Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber
Polymers 2021, 13, 3908. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13223908
New publication:
Feathers let plants grow
The global rise in temperature is leading to an increasing spread of semi-arid and arid regions and is accompanied by a deterioration of agricultural land. Polymers can help in many ways, but must not become a burden on the environment. In this context, we present here a method by which poultry feathers, representative of keratin waste in general, can be converted into hydrogels for use as a plant growth medium. Naturally cross-linked hydrogels are formed from suitably produced, aqueous keratin solutions during evaporation. The cress germination test showed that the gel contains no toxic substances and adheres strongly to the roots. This protects the plants from drought stress as long as the gel still contains moisture.
M. Brenner, O. Weichold
Autogenous Cross-Linking of Recycled Keratin from Poultry-Feather Waste to Hydrogels for Plant-Growth Media
Polymers 2021, 13, 3581. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13203581
New Publication:Breaking Barriers in Ion Conductivity
We are proud to highlight another publication by Prof. Dr. Oliver Weichold. Together with Pia B. Sassmann, he co-authored the study Synergistic effects in cross-linked blends of ion-conducting PEO-/PPO-based unsaturated polyesters, which presents an innovative approach to enhancing ion conductivity.
In this work, unsaturated polyesters (UP) based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) were synthesized, doped with lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄), and cross-linked with styrene using a redox initiator. The findings reveal distinct behaviors in conductivity between PEO- and PPO-based polyester networks. While the conductivity decreases with increasing molecular weight for PEO, the opposite trend is observed for PPO.
Remarkably, the study discovered that targeted blending and cross-linking of PEO- and PPO-based polyesters can create synergistic effects. A 1:1 blend of short-chain PPO and long-chain PEO exhibited a resistivity five times lower than pure PEO and three times lower than pure PPO. These effects are attributed to enhanced chain mobility and intrachain hopping mechanisms, which are amplified by the cross-linking process.
Beyond improved ion conductivity, these networks offer rubber-like elasticity and high water tolerance, making them suitable for diverse applications, particularly under mechanical stress, in atmospheric conditions, or even in aqueous environments where standard ion-conducting systems often fail.
Sassmann, P.B., Weichold, O.
Synergistic effects in cross-linked blends of ion-conducting PEO-/PPO-based unsaturated polyesters
Ionics 27, 3857–3867 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-021-04149-z
Book chapter
Eine sehr grundlegende Einführung in das Thema Polymerchemie findet sich in
O. Weichold, Introduction to Polymer Chemistry. In: P. Richet, R. Conradt, A. Takada, J. Dyon (Hrsg.) Encyclopedia of Glass Science, Technology, History, and Culture Vol. 2. Wiley-VCH, New York, 2021, S. 1043–1055. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118801017
(Deutsch) Neue Veröffentlichung:
Federn als Bindemittel und Flammschutz
The increasing demand for sustainable building materials requires alternative flame retardants that are more sustainable than those used to date. In this context, we present our first results with recycled poultry feather waste for the production of flame-retardant fibreboards. Impregnated wood fibres show a significantly reduced decomposition rate and decomposition temperatures that are approx. 50 °C higher. In addition, decomposition takes place gradually and not immediately as with untreated wood. With a total protein content of approx. 10 % by weight, the boards produced using the wet process are self-extinguishing and do not smoulder. In the three-point bending test, these fibreboards failed at 15 N/mm2, the limit value required by DIN EN 622 for commercially available, formaldehyde-bonded MBH fibreboards. This shows that the recycled feather residues not only have an impressive flame-retardant effect, but can also be used as a fully-fledged binder for a new generation of ecological fibreboards. As these boards are based exclusively on natural materials, they can be shredded and composted at the end of their life cycle.
The article was selected by the Journal for the cover of issue 5(50).
M. Brenner, O. Weichold
Protein Hydrolysates from Biogenic Waste as an Ecological Flame Retarder and Binder for Fiberboards
ACS Omega 2020, 5, 32227−32233. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c03819
New publication:
Duroplasts with a difference
Nature avoids highly reactive functional groups, such as isocyanate and epoxy, by using highly specialised enzymes as catalysts in condensation reactions. Consequently, bio-based raw materials require in vitro reaction conditions that are often difficult to reconcile with the requirements for thermoset resins. In addition, condensation reactions release small molecules (often water), which leads to the formation of foams under standard reaction conditions. It would therefore appear that natural building blocks would not be suitable for the production of thermosetting resins.
We show here that the addition of chopped feathers prevents the previously reported foaming of highly cross-linked combinations such as citric acid/glycerol, increases conversion and improves flame retardant properties.
M. Brenner, C. Popescu, O. Weichold
Anti-Frothing E ffect of Poultry Feathers in Bio-Based, Polycondensation-Type Thermoset Composites
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 2150; https://doi:10.3390/app10062150
