Chitosan applied for gypsum modification

In order to improve the properties of gypsum materials, including workability, mechanical strength and ability to retain water, various admixtures (also polymers), known as plasticisers, have been applied. These polymers can be soluble in water, such as cellulose and starch ethers, or unsoluble applied in a form of dispersion up to 5% of weight fraction. The admixtures are added into initial water and mixed with hemihydrate calcium sulphate in a proper ratio. In the hydration process of the hemihydrate into dehydrate, a crystallisation process leading to gypsum setting occurs. In the present work, a chitosan sample of DD=85% in two forms was applied: dissolved in 1% acetic acid and as a water dispersion in the weight fraction up to 1% of the gypsum matrix. The water to gypsum ratios of 0.6 or 0.74 was applied. The influence of chitosan on the rate of setting and kinetics of crystallisation of gypsum was investigated and discussed. The morphological structure of the resulting gypsum sample was examined using SEM microscopy. In the presented results, chitosan in the form of a 1% dispersion was a setting retardant and it changed the morphological structure of gypsum. However, mechanical tests showed a decrease of bending strength. When chitosan was applied as a biomaterial, the chitosan content in the composite was equal to 10%, and thus a compressing strength increased. The presence of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) in the gypsum matrix caused a small effect on gypsum setting in contrast to PVAc (polyvinyl acetate), which is a good admixture for both cement and gypsum [2,3].