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Innovation project
New possibilities
Looking for project partners!
Gabriel-Chemie is currently looking for partners interested in collaborating on the further development of the project on an industrial scale. Feasibility studies show promising results, and the initial positive feedback confirms and reinforces the relevance of this topic.
"Beyond the agricultural sector, there are also other potential areas of application, such as the packaging industry. In particular, food packaging often requires functional properties to prevent mold growth. Here, the formulation can be of great assistance."
- Otmar Ruhaltinger, Corporate Business Development Manager
Become a partner now
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Project idea
Development of functional films for the agricultural industry
As the initiator of the project, Gabriel-Chemie recognized the need in the agricultural industry and partnered with TGM Vienna for research in this field.
As part of a diploma thesis at TGM, a formulation for functional films was developed, offering a water-retaining capability that provides a solution for water conservation and allows agricultural land to be supplied with moisture over a longer period of time.
Ordinary agricultural films, such as those used for protecting seeds from pests, are widely available on the market. However, what makes this newly developed film unique is its water-retaining property, offering an ecological added value. This benefit is further enhanced by the film's biodegradability and compostability, as well as its primarily natural ingredient-based formulation. The latter also allows the release of nutrients into the soil, promoting a quick regeneration of soil quality.
About the diploma thesis
The diploma thesis serves as an important foundation for future research and development in environmental technology, particularly in the areas of resource conservation and the targeted use of water in agriculture.
"With this project, we are making our contribution to the fight against climate change. We are grateful to have found an innovative project sponsor in Gabriel-Chemie and are excited to see our formulation used in further developments," commented Anna Winter and Marcel Mayer, the two graduates and authors of the diploma thesis.
The project has been submitted to various competitions and has already won the QualifyING Contest of the TGM Technologists Association, as well as the Energy Globe Award Vienna 2024 in the YOUTH category. Results from additional submissions are still pending.
Results & feedback to date
In the investigation of water absorption capacity through swelling tests, two natural materials stood out in particular, which, when combined with various polymers, achieved an average water absorption of up to 210%. Additionally, in home composting, a complete decomposition was achieved within five weeks. For films with a longer lifespan, formulations with a slower decomposition rate were also developed.
The results of practical tests suggest that the addition of functional additives did not lead to significant property degradation in the materials used, making the produced films suitable for use as agricultural films.
In summary, agricultural films with water-retaining properties have been developed, which, depending on the formulation, are home-compostable within a few weeks. The composition of these films can contribute to improved soil quality through their decomposition. Furthermore, the created simulation model allows for efficient prediction of the water absorption capacity of various film structures.
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