EPNOE 2025
Nils Münstermann and Paul Marten attended EPNOE 2025 in Sundsvall, Sweden, last week.
Nils Münstermann gave a presentation on ‘Chitosan-itaconate as binder for high-strength fibreboards’.
Paul Marten presented a poster on ‘Chitosan-based adhesives for wood and acrylic glass bonding’.
Hot-Line: Trident Measures Movement
New in the lab: Trident. Three testing methods in one device: bulk, film, or melt, we can now measure thermal conductivity precisely and make our research even more flexible.
Tim Mrohs at ISP2025 in Brasil: Hydrogels and Water Vapor Insights
From July 13 to 18, 2025, the 14th International Symposium on Polyelectrolytes (ISP2025) took place in Campinas, Brazil. This year, the conference celebrates its 30th anniversary. Tim Mrohs presented his latest research findings with the lecture “Dynamic Water Vapor Sorption in Crosslinked Polycationic Hydrogels: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Insights.”
In it, he presented that polycationic hydrogels based on diallylammonium derivatives exhibit a specifically adjustable water vapor sorption behavior that is influenced by crosslink density, counterions, and monomer structure. Using a systematic DVS analysis of five formulations, he provided thermodynamic and kinetic insights that underscore the potential of these materials for moisture regulation, barrier coatings, and water harvesting.
Visit from Maejo University
Last month, we welcomed Prof. Panwad Sillapawattana from Maejo University in Thailand. As part of a joint research project, she conducted initial experiments in our laboratory and engaged in intensive discussions with our team. The visit was not only scientifically enriching, but also a wonderful cultural and personal exchange. We look forward to continuing our collaboration.
New employee
Ranko Pavlovic joined our research group in the field of structural polymer composites on July 1. He actively supports us in the implementation of our research work.
We are delighted to welcome him and wish him a successful start and much pleasure in his work.
Award for our research into biobased polyester foams
The most recent publication by Fabian Weitenhagen and Oliver Weichold in the journal Polymers (MDPI) was honoured as a feature paper. This special recognition by the editors for outstanding and pioneering contributions. The article entitled ‘Preparation, Reaction Kinetics, and Properties of Polyester Foams Using Water Produced by the Reaction as a Foaming Agent’ was published in the May issue.
The work centres on the development of sustainable, bio-based foams using reaction water as a foaming agent. The results show not only a high degree of control over the foam structure and material properties, but also impressive thermal stability and improved fire protection properties compared to conventional foams.
We are particularly pleased about the award, as of the nine previous publications by ibac in Polymers, this honour has only been bestowed once before.
F. Weitenhagen, O. Weichold
Preparation, Reaction Kinetics, and Properties of Polyester Foams Using Water Produced by the Reaction as a Foaming Agent
Polymers 2025, 17(9):1266, DOI: 10.3390/polym17091266
Nils Münstermann earns an award
Nils Münstermann receives an award for his presentation at the 27th International Scientific Conference on Civil Engineering – Juniorstav, which took place on May 15, 2025 in Brno, Czech Republic. At the conference, he received the Award for an Outstanding Presentation for his presentation on “A Fire-Retardant Coating for Wood Made from Food-Industry Waste”.
The award recognises not only the scientific quality of the publication presented, but also the convincing way in which it was presented to an international audience of experts. We are delighted to receive such recognition and would like to congratulate Nils Münstermann on this success.
N. Münstermann, O. Weichold
A fire-retardant coating for wood made from chitosan itaconate
Progress in Organic Coatings 2024, 197, 108793 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2024.108793
New publication: Self-foaming polyester resin systems
We are pleased to once again present a study by our working group in the journal Polymers. In their current publication, Fabian Weitenhagen and Oliver Weichold present an innovative modular system for the production of bio-based polyester foams in which the reaction water itself serves as a blowing agent – without any external additives. The work shows how a versatile foam system can be developed through the targeted selection of bio-based dicarboxylic acids and various polyols. By systematically varying these building blocks, mechanical properties such as hardness, density, thermal conductivity and thermal stability can be flexibly adapted. Particularly noteworthy are the significantly improved fire properties compared to many organic materials.
A particular highlight of the work is the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, which provide a detailed insight into the internal structure of the foams. Compact cell walls without microporosity become visible, whereby the pore structure is specifically influenced by the varying densities.
SEM images of polyester resin foams with low (A) and higher (B) density.
Weitenhagen, F.; Weichold, O.
Preparation, Reaction Kinetics, and Properties of Polyester Foams Using Water Produced by the Reaction as a Foaming Agent.
Polymers 2025, 17, 1266. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091266
New publication: Self-crosslinking chitosan hydrogels with carboxylic acids
We are pleased to announce a new publication from our research group in the journal Gels. In this study, Nils Münstermann and Oliver Weichold investigated the conditions under which chitosan forms stable hydrogels without additional crosslinkers.
The formation of self-crosslinking chitosan hydrogels using simple carboxylic acids alone is severely limited. Although viscous solutions can be produced with dicarboxylic acids such as oxalic, malonic or succinic acid, stable gels cannot. Stable ionic hydrogels can only be produced by specific chemical modifications such as N-carboxyalkylation or N-succinylation. The length and flexibility of the alkyl spacer and the presence of a covalent bond are crucial for gel formation and mechanical strength. N-carboxypropylchitosan in particular forms very strong gels with low swelling, while shorter side chains produce weaker gels.
Münstermann, N.; Weichold, O.
On the Conditions Determining the Formation of Self-Crosslinking Chitosan Hydrogels with Carboxylic Acids,
Gels 2025, 11(5), 333. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11050333
Visit “MatFo2025”
On April 2, 2025, we attended the conference “MatFo2025: Material innovations for the transformation of the economy and society” in Frankfurt am Main. Experts from politics, research and industry discussed current challenges and innovative solutions for the German innovation system. The new BMBF materials research program “Mat2Twin” was also presented.
Sketch by Till Lassmann
