The detailed study
presented herein of gelatins modified with tannins
as greener binder systems for stone wool and related materials has
unveiled a versatile technology that offers a wide range of possibilities
for tailor-making properties toward various application areas. Thus,
high unaged and aged mechanical strengths in combination with low
water solubilities may generally be obtained from the use of gelatins
with higher gel strength (and hence, generally, higher molecular weights),
low-to-mid range tannin addition levels (3–20%), alkali metal
hydroxides for pH adjustment, and final pH in the range 8–9.
Comparatively low water uptake properties may be obtained using higher
gel strength type A gelatins, lower tannin addition levels, alkali
metal hydroxides for pH adjustment, and lower final pH. Even lower
water uptake properties may then be obtained using Ca(OH)
2
in place of alkali metal hydroxides. If desired, higher water uptakes
may be obtained using type B gelatins (or lower gel strength gelatins
in general), higher tannin addition levels, and higher final pH. Mechanistic
studies indicated that the optimal modification of gelatin with the
tannin component occurs via several pathways.