Keynote Speakers

Dr. Kung-Chung Hsu, Professor

Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan

Biography: Dr. Kung-Chung Hsu received PhD in Department of Chemical Engineering at The Penn State University, in 1985. He worked as a senior scientist in the R & D Department of China Steel Corp. in 1985-1990. He was an Associated Professor in 1990-1996, Professor in 1996-2020, and is now an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Chemistry of National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan. Dr. Hsu has research interests in (1) preparation and application of dispersing agents in ceramic materials, (2) preparation and development of superplasticizer and self-curing agents in concrete, and (3) preparation and application of nano powder and graphene/polymer composites. So far he has published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers and obtained over 25 patents.

Topic: Synthesis of Novel Hydrogels as Curing Agents for Mortars

Abstract: Hydrogel is a crosslinked polymer which can absorb lots of water. In this study, seval novel hydrogels were prepared and used as curing agents for mortars. The chemical structure of these hydrogels were characterized by means of FTIR spectroscopy. The water absorbency of them were measured in salt solutions. The effects of reactant ratio, initiator and crosslinking agent content on the water absorbency of these hydrogels were studied. The hydrogels were then added in mortars. Their effects on the material properties of mortars were determined and discussed.