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Photoinduced surface crosslinking of superabsorbent polymer particles
Author(s) -
Jockusch Steffen,
Turro Nicholas J.,
Mitsukami Yoshiro,
Matsumoto Makoto,
Iwamura Taku,
Lindner Torsten,
Flohr Andreas,
di Massimo Giuseppe
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.29209
Subject(s) - superabsorbent polymer , materials science , polymer , acrylic acid , chemical engineering , scanning electron microscope , polymer chemistry , absorption (acoustics) , surface modification , composite material , copolymer , engineering
Superabsorbent polymer particles, consisting of partly neutralized, slightly crosslinked poly(acrylic acid), have been surface‐crosslinked photochemically. Surface crosslinking is required for many applications of superabsorbent polymers, such as disposable diapers, to control the flow and absorption of liquids in the gel bed. Photoinduced surface crosslinking has been achieved under UV irradiation (200–300 nm) with (NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 8 as a photoactivated crosslinking agent. In comparison with the currently used thermal ester bridging method for surface crosslinking, the new photochemical method generates superabsorbent particles with superior properties, such as an improved flow of liquid through the gel bed, which utilizes the entire gel bed. These improved properties have been shown by water absorption capacity studies, fluid flow dynamics, environmental scanning electron microscopy, and low‐energy ion‐scattering studies. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009