Synthesis and Study of Properties of Organic and Carbon Xerogels from Abies Bark Tannins

Methods of organic and carbon xerogels synthesis based on the use of condensed tannins isolated from abies bark were developed. Organic gels were synthesized by sol-gel condensation of tannins with formaldehyde in a solution of ethanol in the presence of catalysts (NaOH or HCl). The final gelation products were dried by alternating low (-18 – -40 °C) and room temperature to obtain tanninformaldehyde (TF) xerogels. FTIR study indicates that the formation of xerogels was accompanied by crosslinking reactions mainly due to the formation of carbon-carbon and alkyl ether bonds. Using the method of thermogravimetry, it was found that organic TF xerogels are thermally stable up to a temperature of 295 °C and they are resistant to ignition in air at temperatures up to 600 °C and can be used as thermo- and fire-retardant materials. Carbon tannin-formaldehyde xerogels were obtained by carbonization of organic xerogels at 800 °C in an argon atmosphere. The porous structure and surface morphology of organic and carbon xerogels was studied by BET- and SEM–methods. A significant development of the specific surface area (to 483–524 m2/g)as a result of the organic xerogels carbonization was established. Using SEM, it was shown that in carbon gels a spatially cross-linked structure of polymer chains consisting of 5-10 nmsized globule particles forming nanometer-sized pores is retained