All in Focus!
The two microscopes in the BX53M series from Olympus offer a wide range of examination options thanks to their extensive equipment. They enable material analyses with a magnification of up to 50x in bright or dark field as well as under fluorescent light or a polarisation filter. In addition, panoramic and EFI images can be taken automatically with the motorised stage, ensuring efficient and precise documentation of samples.
Future in Print: Full Speed Ahead!
We have purchased a Prusa MK4 3D printer for the reproducible and high-quality production of prototypes and samples from our bio-based materials. With its high-precision printing technology and support for various materials, it enables the realisation of complex designs and detailed structures – ideal for our research projects.
The Prusa MK4 ensures consistent printing results thanks to its precise control and automatic calibration. This opens up new possibilities for the development and testing of innovative bio-based materials and devices.
We zoom in, til the electrons dance
The Philips XL-30 scanning electron microscope enables our research group to perform precise and advanced material analyses. It utilises field emission technology to create high-resolution images of samples, while offering the ability to analyse materials under realistic environmental conditions, such as increased humidity. This flexibility is particularly valuable for analysing complex building materials and their reactions in different environments.
62nd DAfStb Research Colloquium
Prof Weichold gave a lecture entitled ‘Highly alkaline hydrogels – the Swiss army knife of repair’ at the 62nd Research Colloquium of the German Committee for Reinforced Concrete, also the 10th Annual Conference, 26-27 September 2023 in Aachen.
17th ICPIC

Tim Mrohs was awarded 2nd place for a short paper and the presentation of his poster at the 17th International Congress on Polymers in Concrete (ICPIC) 2023 in Warsaw, Poland, entitled: ‘Alkaline Hydrogels – Multifunctional Materials for Concrete Rehabilitation’.
Prof Weichold gave a presentation entitled ‘Ionic Conductive Polyesters-Assessing the Risk of Corrosion in Steel-Reinforced Concrete’
Addendum Nov. 2024: Both articles are published in Springer Proceedings in Materials, Vol. 61 ‘Concrete-Polymer Composites in Circular Economy’. See also entry from 9 November 2024.
21st ibausil
Prof. Weichold gave a keynote lecture entitled ‘Alkaline, multifunctional hydrogels in repair’ at the 21st International Building Materials Conference (ibausil), 13-15 September 2023 in Weimar.
Presentation
Tim Mrohs gave a presentation entitled: ‘Crosslinked, Highly Swelling Diallyldimethylammonium Hydrogels’ at the 13th International Symposium on Polyelectrolytes (ISP) 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic.
3rd ICSTI
Prof. Weichold gave an online lecture entitled ‘The potential of keratin as renewable resource’ at the 3rd International Conference on Science Technology & Innovation (3rd ICSTI), 11 August 2023 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
IPC2023
At the 13th Society of Polymer Science Japan (SPSJ) International Polymer Conferences (IPC2023), 18-21 July 2023 in Sapporo, Japan, we were represented with two presentations:
Prof Weichold
Firefighting with feathers
Fabian Weitenhagen
Development of bio-based thermosetting polyester resins
Joint publication:
Metal complexes with keratin ligands
In collaboration with the research group led by Prof Panwad Sillapawattana from Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, complexes of Fe3+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Ag+ with keratin ligands were produced and possibilities for application in the biomedical field were investigated. In particular, keratin hydrolysates with low molecular weight show higher metal adsorption. The overall results suggest that the specific properties of the complexes, including heat resistance, antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity, are desirable for medical textiles.
A. K. Aldred, P. Klungsupya, W. Charerntantanakul, O. Weichold, P. Sillapawattana
Preparation of Keratin‑Metal Complexes Derived from Different Treatments of Chicken Feather Waste
Waste Biomass Valor. 2024, 15, 115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-023-02154-z

