Mixed Polymer Superabsorbent Fibers And Method For Their Preparation

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-04-03
WEYERHAEUSER CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The high cost derives in part from the cost structure for the manufacture of acrylic acid which, in turn, depends upon the fluctuating price of petroleum oil.
This “over-design” constitutes an inefficiency in the use of SAP.
The inefficiency results in part from the fact that SAPs are designed to have high gel strength (as demonstrated by high absorbency under load or AUL).
However, this high “void volume” simultaneously results in there being a lot of interstitial (between particle) liquid in the product in the saturated state.
When there is a lot of interstitial liquid the “rewet” value or “wet feeling” of an absorbent product is compromised.
Compared to SAP, these fibers are inexpensive on a per mass basis, but tend to be more expensive on a per unit of liquid held basis.
The tendency to release acquired liquid can result in significant skin wetness during use of an absorbent product that includes a core formed exclusively from cellulosic fibers.
Such products also tend to leak acquired liquid because liquid is not effectively retained in such a fibrous absorbent core.

Method used

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  • Mixed Polymer Superabsorbent Fibers And Method For Their Preparation
  • Mixed Polymer Superabsorbent Fibers And Method For Their Preparation
  • Mixed Polymer Superabsorbent Fibers And Method For Their Preparation

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0114]A solution of CMC 9H4F 10.0 g OD in 450 ml deionized (DI) water was prepared with vigorous stirring to obtain a CMC solution. Guar gum (0.6 g) was dissolved in 25 ml DI water and mix well with the CMC solution. The solution was stirred for one hour to allow complete mixing of the two polymers.

[0115]The polymer mixture was blended in the blender. Fully dissolve basic dihydroxy aluminum acetate stabilized with boric acid (purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals) 0.125 g in 25 ml DI water. Transfer the aluminum acetate stabilized with boric acid solution to the polymer solution and blend for five minutes to mix to provide a gel. Leave the gel at ambient temperature (25° C.) for one hour.

example 2

[0116]A solution of CMC 9H4F 10.0 g OD in 950 ml deionized (DI) water was prepared with vigorous stirring to obtain a CMC solution. Guar gum (0.6 g) was dissolved in 25 ml DI water and mix well with the CMC solution. The solution was stirred for one hour to allow complete mixing of the two polymers.

[0117]The polymer mixture was blended in the blender. Fully dissolve basic dihydroxy aluminum acetate stabilized with boric acid (purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals) 0.125 g in 25 ml DI water. Transfer the aluminum acetate stabilized with boric acid solution to the polymer solution and blend for five minutes to provide a gel. Leave the gel at ambient temperature (25° C.) for one hour.

example 3

[0118]The aqueous gels described above in Examples 1 and 2 were extruded in a wet spinning extruder to form a gel fiber. The gel from the Example 1 was a 2% by weight solution and the gel from Example 2 a 1% by weight solution. The get fiber was placed in a denatured ethanol solvent to precipitate the fibers. There was no second crosslinking. The filaments formed were 700 μm in diameter. The following table gives the amount of gel in solution and the free swell, centrifuge capacity and AUL of the fibers. Free swell, centrifuge capacity and AUL are in grams absorbed per gram of fiber.

TABLE 1gel incentrifugeExamplesolution, %Free swellcapacityAUL1231.213.3218.711227.1614.0322.952134.5117.0713.23

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Abstract

A method for making mixed polymer composite fibers in which a carboxyalkyl cellulose and a galactomannan polymer or a glucomannan polymer are blended in water to provide an aqueous solution; the aqueous solution treated with a first crosslinking agent to provide a gel; the gel is formed into get fibers using melt blowing, centrifugal spinning, wet spinning or dry-jet wet spinning; and the fibers treated with water miscible solvent to form mixed polymer composite fibers. The fiber has a diameter in the range of 50 μm to 1000 μm.

Description

RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11 / 537,849, Methods for the preparation of mixed polymer superabsorbent fibers, and application Ser. No. 11 / 537,989, Mixed polymer superabsorbent fibers, both filed Oct. 2, 2006, and.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Personal care absorbent products, such as infant diapers, adult incontinent pads, and feminine care products, typically contain an absorbent core that includes superabsorbent polymer particles distributed within a fibrous matrix. Superabsorbents are water-swellable, generally water-insoluble absorbent materials having a high absorbent capacity for body fluids. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) in common use are mostly derived from acrylic acid, which is itself derived from petroleum oil, a non-renewable raw material. Acrylic acid polymers and SAPs are generally recognized as not being biodegradable. Despite their wide use, some segments of the absorbent products market...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): D02G3/00
CPCY10T428/2913A61L15/60A61L15/42D01F1/10D01F8/02D10B2509/026
InventorWEERAWARNA, S. ANANDALUO, MENGKUI
OwnerWEYERHAEUSER CO