Hygroscopy as an Indicator of Specific Surface Area in Polymer Materials.

Specific surface area (SSA) is an integral characteristic of the interfacial surface in poly-disperse systems, widely used for the assessment of technological properties in polymer materials and composites. Hygroscopic water content () is an obligate indicator of dispersed materials prior to any analysis of their chemical composition. This study links both indicators for the purpose of the express assessment of SSA using widely available data, on the example of natural (starch, cellulose) and synthetic (acrylic hydrogels) polymer materials.

Biodegradability of Gel-Forming Superabsorbents for Soil Conditioning: Kinetic Assessment Based on CO Emissions.

Quantification of the biodegradability of soil water superabsorbents is necessary for a reasonable prediction of their stability and functioning. A new methodological approach to assessing the biodegradability of these polymer materials has been implemented on the basis of PASCO (USA) instrumentation for continuous registration of kinetic CO emission curves in laboratory incubation experiments with various hydrogels, including the well-known trade brands Aquasorb, Zeba, and innovative Russian Aquapastus composites with an acrylic polymer matrix. Original kinetic models were proposed to describe different types of respiratory curves and calculate half-life indicators of the studied superabsorbents.

Gel-Forming Soil Conditioners of Combined Action: Field Trials in Agriculture and Urban Landscaping.

The article summarizes multivariate field trials of gel-forming soil conditioners for agriculture and urban landscaping in various climatic conditions from arid (O.A.E.

Gel-Forming Soil Conditioners of Combined Action: Laboratory Tests for Functionality and Stability.

The research analyzes technological properties and stability of innovative gel-forming polymeric materials for complex soil conditioning. These materials combine improvements in the water retention, dispersity, hydraulic properties, anti-erosion and anti-pathogenic protection of the soil along with a high resistance to negative environmental factors (osmotic stress, compression in the pores, microbial biodegradation). Laboratory analysis was based on an original system of instrumental methods, new mathematical models, and the criteria and gradations of the quality of gels and their compositions with mineral soil substrates.

Synthetic gel structures in soils for sustainable potato farming.

Anti-pathogenic protection of potatoes remains one of the most pressing problems of sustainable agronomy and plant protection. For this purpose, we propose to use a new type of synthetic hydrogels filled with amphiphilic recipients (dispersed peat, humates) and modern plant protection products. We assumed that the introduction of swollen gel structures into the rhizosphere of potatoes will allow us: to optimize the water supply and productivity of potatoes; to protect the fertile layer and potato tubers from the main pathogens; to fix modern plant protection products in the rhizosphere, keeping them from leaching and entering the environment.