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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Bioproducts Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #149673
Title: HYDROGELS FROM BLENDS OF STARCH AND MAGNESIUM SILICATE, POLY(VINYL ALCOHOL) AND ETHYLENE (VINYL ALCOHOL) COPOLYMER.

Author
item Glenn, Gregory - Greg
item Imam, Syed
item Orts, William
item Wood, Delilah - De

Submitted to: American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2003
Publication Date: 11/1/2003
Citation: Glenn, G.M., Imam, S.H., Orts, W.J., Wood, D.F. 2003. Hydrogels from blends of starch and magnesium silicate, poly(vinyl alcohol) and ethylene (vinyl alcohol) Copolymer. American Institute of Chemical Engineer's Annual Meeting, November 16-21, 2003, San Francisco, CA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: There are numerous industrial applications for durable hydrogels including the use in hydrogel-based lightweight concrete. Starch-based hydrogels are inexpensive and durable but are not stable in alkaline environments. Hydrogels made of blends of starch and magnesium silicate had greater stability in alkaline conditions than hydrogels made only of starch. Blends of starch and 30% poly(vinyl alcohol) had the highest alkaline stability. The starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) blends also had the greatest moisture content of the hydrogel formulations tested. Blends of starch with 5, 10, 20 and 30% poly(vinyl alcohol) were made to determine the least amount of poly(vinyl alcohol) needed to provide adequate resistance to alkaline conditions. Blends of starch and ethylene (vinyl alcohol) copolymer were tested for a comparison with the starch/PVOH blends. The results showed that hydrogels made of starch/polymer blends have adequate shear strength and provide alkaline stability needed for hydrogel-based lightweight concrete.