17th ICPIC conference papers reprinted
The articles on the presentations “Ionic Conductive Polyesters-Assessing the Risk of Corrosion in Steel-Reinforced Concrete” by Prof. Weichold and “Alkaline Hydrogels-Multifunctional Materials for Concrete Rehabilitation” by Tim Mrohs (see also entry from 19.9.2023) at the 17th International Congress on Polymer in Concrete (ICPIC 2023) in Warsaw, Poland, have now been published in print.
Weichold, O. (2025). Ionic Conductive Polyesters—Assessing the Risk of Corrosion in Steel-Reinforced Concrete. In: Czarnecki, L., Garbacz, A., Wang, R., Frigione, M., Aguiar, J.B. (eds) Concrete-Polymer Composites in Circular Economy. ICPIC 2023. Springer Proceedings in Materials, vol 61. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-72955-3_34
Mrohs, T., Jung, A., Weichold, O. (2025). Alkaline Hydrogels—Multifunctional Materials for Concrete Rehabilitation. In: Czarnecki, L., Garbacz, A., Wang, R., Frigione, M., Aguiar, J.B. (eds) Concrete-Polymer Composites in Circular Economy. ICPIC 2023. Springer Proceedings in Materials, vol 61. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-72955-3_37
6th Junior EPNOE
At the 6th European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE) Junior Scientist Meeting 2024, September 4-6, 2024 in Vienna, Austria, we were represented with two contributions:
Nils Münstermann
High-Strength Chitosan-bonded Fibreboards in Sustainable Construction (presentation)
Paul Marten
Development of a Chitosan-Based Adhesive for Wood-Acrylic Glass Laminates (short presentation and poster)
New publication: Wood coating made from biogenic residues
Wood has been a central building material for mankind for thousands of years and is characterised by its bioavailability, sustainability and versatility. Nevertheless, the chemical structure of wood poses a number of challenges. It is susceptible to biological degradation processes, for example by fungi, bacteria or insects, and shows signs of graying due to lignin degradation when exposed to UV radiation. To prevent this, N. Münstermann and O. Weichold have developed an environmentally friendly coating based on chitosan, a biopolymer obtained from food waste.
The newly developed chitosanitaconate coating is transparent, emphasizes the wood grain and gives the wood hydrophobic properties with contact angles of over 90°. It effectively protects the wood from moisture, prevents graying caused by UV radiation and reduces staining caused by coffee or red wine, for example. Thanks to its strong adhesion and adaptability, the coating is highly versatile. By adding pigments, the coating can be adapted to the aesthetic requirements of modern interior design. Chitosanitaconate combines wood protection, modern aesthetics and sustainability – a versatile solution for environmentally friendly construction.
N. Münstermann, O. Weichold
Chitosan itaconate based water- and stain-repellent coatings for wood
Progress in Organic Coatings 2024, 194, 108630 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2024.108630
Presentation
Nils Münstermann gave a presentation entitled ‘Chitosan as an environmentally friendly binder for high-strength fibreboards’ at the 2024 doctoral seminar of the GDCh Construction Chemistry Division in Aachen, Germany.
Presentation
Paul Marten gave a presentation entitled ‘Development of a chitosan-based adhesive for wood-acrylic glass bonding’ at the 2024 doctoral seminar of the GDCh Construction Chemistry Division in Aachen, Germany.
New PhD Student
We have welcomed Lena Schmitz to the bio-based building materials department in July. In her dissertation, she is investigating the properties and potential applications of the fibre protein keratin, which is obtained from sheep’s wool, feathers, hair and hooves, among other things. She is trying to recycle these waste products sensibly and research environmentally friendly, resource-saving and sustainable materials for the construction industry. We wish her every success with her research and welcome her to the working group.
Nils Münstermann earns an Award
Nils Münstermann receives the poster prize at the Polymers for Sustainable Future 2024 conference in Prague for his contribution ‘Chitosan-Based Coatings for the Water-Proofing of Wood’.
Completed Master Thesis
We would like to congratulate Lena Schmitz on successfully completing her Master’s degree in Chemistry. The title of her Master’s thesis is: ‘The influence of additives on the mechanical properties of thermoplastic biocomposites made from hydrolysed keratins’.
Completed Master Thesis
We would like to congratulate Sandra Czypionka on successfully completing her Master’s degree in Chemistry. The title of her Master’s thesis is: ‘Comparison of methods for determining the biodegradability of sustainable polymer composites’.
WTA-Days 2024
We were represented with a total of four lectures at the WTA Days 2024, 14-16 March 2024 in Brno, Czech Republic.
Prof Weichold presented a lecture entitled ‘Alkaline hydrogels as multifunctional repair materials’. From the field of bio-based construction materials, Fabian Weitenhagen gave a presentation on ‘Renewable Polyester Resin Systems for Sustainable Construction Materials’, Paul Marten gave a presentation on ‘Chitosan as a Key Component in the Production of Sustainable Acrylic Glass-Wood Laminates’ and Nils Münstermann gave a presentation on ‘Chitosan as an Eco-Friendly Binder for High-Strength Fibreboards in Sustainable Construction’.
