{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,22]],"date-time":"2026-09-22T13:27:46Z","timestamp":1790083666221,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"16","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,8,15]],"date-time":"2019-08-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1565827200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Center for Research and Development and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management","award":["GEKON No1\/O5\/213122\/26\/2015"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["GEKON No1\/O5\/213122\/26\/2015"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Materials"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The aim of this study was to develop new sulfur-copolymer concrete composites using waste compounds that have good mechanical characteristics and show a resistance to biocorrosion. The comonomers used to synthesize the sulfur\u2013organic copolymers were\u201490 wt. % sulfur; 5 wt. % dicyclopentadiene (DCPD); 5 wt. % organic monomers, styrene (SDS), 1-decene (SDD), turpentine (SDT), and furfural (SDF). The concrete composites based on sulfur\u2013organic copolymers were filled with aggregates, sand, gravel, as well as additives and industrial waste such as fly ash or phosphogypsum. The sulfur\u2013organic copolymers were found to be chemically stable (softening temperature, thermal stability, melting temperature, amount of recrystallized sulfur, and shore D hardness). Partial replacement of DCPD with other organic comonomers did not change the thermal stability markedly but did make the copolymers more elastic. However, the materials became significantly stiffer after repeated melting. All the tested copolymers were found to be resistant to microbial corrosion. The highest resistance was exhibited by the SDS-containing polymer, while the SDF polymer exhibited the greatest change due to the activity of the microorganisms (FTIR analysis and sulfur crystallization). The concrete composites with sulfur\u2013organic copolymers containing DCPD, SDS, SDF, fly ash, and phosphogypsum were mechanically resistant to compression and stretching, had low water absorbance, and were resistant to factors, such as temperature and salt. Resistance to freezing and thawing (150 cycles) was not confirmed. The concrete composites with sulfur\u2013organic copolymers showed resistance to bacterial growth and acid activity during 8 weeks of incubation with microorganisms. No significant structural changes were observed in the SDS composites after incubation with bacteria, whereas composites containing SDF showed slight changes (FTIR and microscopic analysis). The concrete composite containing sulfur, DCPD, SDS, sand, gravel, and fly ash was the most resistant to microbiological corrosion, based on the metabolic activity of the bacteria and the production of ergosterol by the molds after eight weeks of incubation. It was found that Thiobacillus thioparus was the first of the acidifying bacteria to colonize the sulfur concrete, decreasing the pH of the environment. The molds Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus versicolor and Cladosporium herbarum were able to grow on the surface of the tested composites only in the presence of an organic carbon source (glucose). During incubation, they produced organic acids and acidified the environment. However, no morphological changes in the concretes were observed suggesting that sulfur\u2013organic copolymers containing styrene could be used as engineering materials or be applied as binders in sulfur-concretes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ma12162602","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,8,15]],"date-time":"2019-08-15T11:11:00Z","timestamp":1565867460000},"page":"2602","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":31,"title":["New Sulfur Organic Polymer-Concrete Composites Containing Waste Materials: Mechanical Characteristics and Resistance to Biocorrosion"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Beata","family":"Gutarowska","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Technology Fermentation and Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 171\/173, 90-924 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7247-1229","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Renata","family":"Kotynia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Concrete Structures, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Al. Politechniki 6, 90-924 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dariusz","family":"Bieli\u0144ski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Polymer and Dye Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 12\/16, 90-924 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9686-5524","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rafa\u0142","family":"Anyszka","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Polymer and Dye Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 12\/16, 90-924 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jakub","family":"Wr\u0119czycki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Polymer and Dye Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Stefanowskiego 12\/16, 90-924 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ma\u0142gorzata","family":"Piotrowska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Technology Fermentation and Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 171\/173, 90-924 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anna","family":"Kozir\u00f3g","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Technology Fermentation and Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 171\/173, 90-924 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9465-4819","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joanna","family":"Ber\u0142owska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Technology Fermentation and Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 171\/173, 90-924 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Piotr","family":"Dziugan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Technology Fermentation and Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczanska 171\/173, 90-924 Lodz, Poland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,8,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02156594","article-title":"Thermal behaviour of sulfur-selenium mixtures","volume":"17","author":"Datta","year":"1979","journal-title":"J. Therm. Anal."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-3093(96)00373-0","article-title":"Photo-induced structural changes in liquid sulfur","volume":"205\u2013207","author":"Sakaguchi","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Non-Cryst. Solids."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.1016\/S0010-4655(01)00351-4","article-title":"Photo-induced polymerization in liquid sulfur studied by ab initio molecular-dynamics simulation","volume":"142","author":"Munejiri","year":"2001","journal-title":"Comput. Phys. Commun."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1002\/pi.4980120103","article-title":"Chemistry of the modification of sulfur by the use of dicyclopentadiene and of styrene","volume":"12","author":"Blight","year":"2007","journal-title":"Br. Polym. J."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1317","DOI":"10.1039\/cc9960001317","article-title":"Palladium-catalysed cycloaddition copolymerisation of diynes with elemental sulfur to poly(thiophene)s","volume":"11","author":"Tsuda","year":"1996","journal-title":"Chem. Commun."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2961","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1099-0518(199710)35:14<2961::AID-POLA17>3.0.CO;2-H","article-title":"Copolymerization of elemental sulfur with cyclic (arylene disulfide) oligomers","volume":"35","author":"Ding","year":"1997","journal-title":"J Polym. Sci. A."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"518","DOI":"10.1038\/nchem.1624","article-title":"The use of elemental sulfur as an alternative feedstock for polymeric materials","volume":"5","author":"Chung","year":"2013","journal-title":"Nat. Chem."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"229","DOI":"10.1021\/mz400649w","article-title":"Inverse vulcanization of elemental sulfur to prepare polymeric electrode materials for Li-S batteries","volume":"3","author":"Simmonds","year":"2014","journal-title":"ACS Macro Lett."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3014","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.201305607","article-title":"New infrared transmitting material via inverse vulcanization of elemental sulfur to prepare high refractive index polymers","volume":"26","author":"Griebel","year":"2014","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Namnabat, S., Gabriel, J.J., Pyun, J., and Norwood, R.A. (2014). Optical properties of sulfur copolymers for infrared applications. Proc. SPIE, 8983.","DOI":"10.1117\/12.2040771"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.1080\/02786110214494","article-title":"Sulfur-rich copolymers of sulfur with 5-vinylobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and tricyclo[5.2.1.0.2.6]deca-3,8-diene as prospective cathode materials for lithium cells","volume":"25","author":"Trofimov","year":"2002","journal-title":"Sulfur. Lett."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Rucinski, J., Slusarski, L., and Przybyl, W. (1975). The way for preparation of copolymers of sulfur and styrene (in Polish). (PL 81369), Poland. Patent."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Bobrowska-Krajewska, K., Dojka, M., Dufaj-Zemla, H., Matyka, J., and Slezak, M. (2005). The way of synthesis of stable polymeric sulfur for production of sulfur-concretes and waste protection (in Polish). (PL 190343), Poland Patent."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"243","article-title":"Application of modified sulfur for production of sulfur-concretes (in Polish)","volume":"41","author":"Blasik","year":"1988","journal-title":"Chemik."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"323","article-title":"Sulfur concrete\u2019s technology and its application to the building industry","volume":"16","author":"Ciak","year":"2013","journal-title":"Tech. Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Al-Ansary, M. (2010, January 12\u201315). Innovative solutions for sulfur in Quatar. Proceedings of the Sulfur World Symposium, Doha, Quatar."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Strickland, D., Chughtai, M.J., and May, R.W. (2012). Bitominous composition. Shell Oil Company. (WO 2012\/138860 A1), US Patent."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Hanumanthgari, R., D\u2019Melo, D.J., Fitts, G., and Soubigou, C. (2014). Process for the manufacture of an asphalt composition. Shell Technol. Centre Bangalore. (WO 2014\/2016986 A1), India Patent."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Verbist, G.L.M.M., Hamelink, C.P., Dixon, E.R., and Hommes, A.E. (2015). Sulfur cement products. Shell Oil Company. (WO 2015\/014953 A1), US Patent.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.wpi.2015.11.001"},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Mohamed, A.-M.O., and El-Gamal, M. (2010). Sulfur Concrete for the Construction Industry A Sustainable Development Approach, Ross Publishing Inc."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3926","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conbuildmat.2011.04.024","article-title":"Durability of sulfur concrete in various aggressive environments","volume":"25","author":"Vlahovic","year":"2011","journal-title":"Constr. Build. Mater."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1680\/envgeo.13.00026","article-title":"Durability of modified sulfur concrete in sewerage environment","volume":"2","author":"Mohamed","year":"2015","journal-title":"Environ. Geotech."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Fazli, A., Fathi, S., and Fazli, M. (2014, January 7\u20138). Collation the durability of modified and non-modified sulfur concrete in erosive environments. Proceedings of the CSCE, Roma, Italy."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"186","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cemconcomp.2008.12.006","article-title":"Hydro-mechanical behavior of a newly developed sulfur polymer concrete","volume":"31","author":"Mohamed","year":"2009","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Compos."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"(2019, July 15). Ochrona \u015arodowiska 2015, Available online: http:\/\/stat.gov.pl\/download\/gfx\/portalinformacyjny\/pl\/defaultaktualnosci\/5484\/1\/16\/1\/ochrona_srodowiska_2015.pdf."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"300","DOI":"10.1016\/S1389-1723(00)80013-4","article-title":"Isolation of iron-oxidazing bacteria from corroded concretes of sewage treatment plants","volume":"88","author":"Maeda","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Biosci. Bioenginineering."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"(2017). ISO 4649: 2017\u2014Rubber, Vulcanized or Thermoplastic\u2014Determination of Abrasion Resistance Using a Rotating Cylindrical Drum Device, International Organization for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"(1996). ISO 57:1975\/AMD 1:1996\u2014Life Cycle, International Organization for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"(1959). ISO 87: 1959\u2014Simple Blend Testing of Steel Sheet and Strip Not Less Than 3 mm Thick, International Organization for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"(2010). ISO 179-1:2010\u2014Plastics\u2014Determination of Charpy Impact Properties\u2014Part 1: Non-Instrumented Impact Test, International Organization for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"(2011). PN-EN 12390-3:2011\u2014Testing Hardened Concrete\u2014Part 3: Compressive Strength of Test Specimens, The Polish Committee for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"(2016). PN-EN 196-1:2016-07\u2014Methods of Testing Cement. Part 1: Determination of Strength, The Polish Committee for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"(1988). PN-B-06250:1988\u2014Ordinary Concrete (in Polish), The Polish Committee for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"(2004). PN-EN 1338:2004\u2014Concrete Paving Blocks. Requirements and Test Methods, The Polish Committee for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"(2004). PN-EN 1339:2004\u2014Concrete Paving Flags. Requirements and Test Methods, The Polish Committee for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"(2004). PN-EN 1340:2004\u2014Concrete Kerb Units. Requirements and Test Methods, The Polish Committee for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"(2004). PN-EN ISO 846:2002\u2014Plastics\u2014Evaluation of the Action of Microorganisms, The Polish Committee for Standardization."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1016\/S0964-8305(02)00063-X","article-title":"Elaboration and application of mathematical model for estimation of mould contamination of some building materials based on ergosterol content determination","volume":"49","author":"Gutarowska","year":"2002","journal-title":"Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"605","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1472-765X.2009.02577.x","article-title":"Mathematical models of mycelium growth and ergosterol synthesis in stationary mould culture","volume":"48","author":"Gutarowska","year":"2009","journal-title":"Lett. Appli. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1016\/S0964-8305(02)00049-5","article-title":"Quantifying microbially induced deterioration of concrete:initial studies","volume":"49","author":"Roberts","year":"2002","journal-title":"Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2636","DOI":"10.1016\/S0043-1354(01)00473-0","article-title":"Corrosion by bacteria of concreto in sewerage systems and inhibitory effects of formates on their growth","volume":"36","author":"Yamanaka","year":"2002","journal-title":"Water Res."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"807","DOI":"10.1007\/BF03179227","article-title":"The ability of filamentous fungi to produce acids on indoor building materials","volume":"59","author":"Gutarowska","year":"2009","journal-title":"Annals of Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cemconres.2015.06.011","article-title":"Microbiologically induced concrete corrosion: A case study from a combined sewer network","volume":"77","author":"Grengg","year":"2015","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Res."},{"key":"ref_44","first-page":"133","article-title":"Biodeterioration of concrete","volume":"4","author":"Cwalina","year":"2008","journal-title":"Archit. Civ. Eng. Environ."}],"container-title":["Materials"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1944\/12\/16\/2602\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T13:11:23Z","timestamp":1760188283000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1944\/12\/16\/2602"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2019,8,15]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"16","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,8]]}},"alternative-id":["ma12162602"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ma12162602","relation":{},"ISSN":["1996-1944"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1996-1944","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2019,8,15]]}}}