Polymer material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a polymer material and its uses. In the present invention, it is possible to provide a polymer material excellent in biodegradability and water absorbency by not using a crosslinking component that may adversely affect the biodegradability or by using a polysaccharide component that enables efficient crosslinking while minimizing the use of such a component. In the present invention, it is also possible to provide further uses of the polymer material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0062381 filed on May 20, 2022, and all contents disclosed in the document of the Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a polymer material and its uses.

Background Art

[0003] A hydrogel polymer is generally defined as a crosslinked hydrophilic polymer and is also simply called a hydrogel.

[0004] Such a polymer may be used as a material called so-called SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer). SAP is a material that can absorb moisture dozens to thousands of times its own weight. SAP is used in various applications such as sanitary products such as sanitary napkins and diapers, medical supplies, household materials, agricultural materials, horticultural materials, transportation materials, civil engineering and construction materials, materials related to electric and electronic devices, or water treatment agents.

[0005] The most widely used hydrogel polymer as SAP is a polymer made of vinyl-based materials such as crosslinked polyacrylic acid.

[0006] These materials are relatively inexpensive and have excellent water absorption ability, but they remain semi-permanently even after being discarded, causing various problems.

[0007] To solve such problems, there are various attempts to manufacture SAP with so-called biodegradable materials.

[0008] However, the materials known to date do not form SAP with well-balanced physical properties. For example, the most typical physical property required for SAP is water absorption capacity. However, among the SAPs made of biodegradable materials known to date, at least one of the water absorption capacity and biodegradability is not sufficiently ensured, or in some cases, both physical properties are not ensured at appropriate levels.

[0009] For example, there have been attempts to manufacture water-absorbing materials using polysaccharides. Since polysaccharides have biodegradability, the water-absorbing materials also have biodegradability. In such technologies, it is necessary to crosslink polysaccharides to form SAP. However, mainly acrylate-based or vinyl-based compounds are used for this crosslinking. SAP crosslinked with such materials can ensure a certain degree of water absorption capacity, but there is a problem that the degree of biodegradation decreases. Therefore, if the crosslinking agent is not used or the amount used is minimized during crosslinking, the water absorption capacity and the degree of biodegradation can be ensured. However, considering the crosslinking efficiency of polysaccharides, this is not an easy method.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a polymer material capable of simultaneously ensuring excellent water absorption capacity and biodegradability, and its uses.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] Among the physical properties mentioned in this specification, when the measurement temperature and / or pressure affect the physical property value, unless otherwise specified, the physical property means the physical property measured at normal temperature and / or normal pressure.

[0012] In this specification, the term "normal temperature" means the natural temperature without heating and cooling, for example, any temperature within the range of about 10°C to 30°C, or a temperature of about 23°C or 25°C.

[0013] As used herein, the term "normal pressure" refers to the pressure when not particularly increased or decreased, and means a pressure of about normal atmospheric pressure, for example, a pressure of about 740 mmHg to 780 mmHg.

[0014] Among the physical properties mentioned in this specification, when the measured humidity affects the physical property value, unless otherwise specified, the physical property means the physical property measured at the natural humidity without special adjustment under the measured temperature and pressure conditions.

[0015] As used herein, the term "alkyl" or "alkyl group" means an alkyl or alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, 1 to 16 carbon atoms, 1 to 12 carbon atoms, 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or 1 to 4 carbon atoms, unless otherwise specified. Such an alkyl or alkyl group may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Such an alkyl or alkyl group may optionally be substituted by at least one substituent.

[0016] As used herein, the term "alkylene" or "alkylene group" means a functional group in which two hydrogen atoms are removed from an alkane and linked to another object. In this case, the two hydrogen atoms are in a structure removed from other carbon atoms of the alkane. Such an alkylene or alkylene group may be an alkylene or alkylene group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, 2 to 16 carbon atoms, 2 to 12 carbon atoms, 2 to 8 carbon atoms, or 2 to 4 carbon atoms. Such an alkylene or alkylene group may be linear, branched, or cyclic. Such an alkylene or alkylene group may optionally be substituted by at least one substituent.

[0017] As used herein, the term "alkylidene" or "alkylidene group" means, unless otherwise specified, a functional group in which two hydrogen atoms have been removed from an alkane and linked to another object, and in this case, it means a structure in which the two hydrogen atoms have been removed from one carbon atom of the alkane. Such an alkylidene or alkylidene group may be an alkylidene or alkylidene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, 1 to 16 carbon atoms, 1 to 12 carbon atoms, 1 to 8 carbon atoms or 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Such an alkylidene or alkylidene group may be linear, branched or cyclic. Such an alkylidene or alkylidene group may optionally be substituted with at least one substituent.

[0018] In the present invention, the term "hydrogel polymer material" means a water-absorbing material containing a crosslinked polymer. In this specification, such a material is also simply referred to as a hydrogel.

[0019] The water-absorbing material described in this specification can exhibit at least one of the water content, the centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) and the pressure absorption capacity (AUP) defined in this specification.

[0020] As used herein, a biodegradable material means that the material exhibits the biodegradability defined in this specification (measured according to the KS M ISO 14851 standard).

[0021] The present invention relates to a polymer material. The polymer material may be the water-absorbing material described above and may also be a biodegradable material.

[0022] As used herein, the term "polymer material" means a material containing a polymer. A polymer means a substance formed by linking two or more units by covalent bonds. In one example, the polymer means a substance having a structure in which two or more units are linked by covalent bonds and having a molecular weight above a certain level. There is no limitation on the range of the molecular weight, but the molecular weight of the polymer may be, in terms of weight average molecular weight (Mw), about 500 g / mol or more. There is no particular limitation on the upper limit of the weight average molecular weight. For example, the weight average molecular weight of the polymer may be about 1,000,000 g / mol or less. The weight average molecular weight is a value measured by GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatograph) using polystyrene as a calibration standard sample.

[0023] In one example, the lower limit of the weight ratio of the polymer in the polymer material may be about 55 wt%, 60 wt%, 65 wt%, 70 wt%, 75 wt%, 80 wt%, 85 wt%, 90 wt% or 95 wt%, and the upper limit may be about 100 wt%, 98 wt%, 96 wt%, 94 wt%, 92 wt% or 90 wt%. The weight ratio of the polymer may be within a range above any of the lower limits described above or exceeding the range, within a range below or less than any of the upper limits described above, or within a range above or exceeding any of the lower limits described above while being below or less than any of the upper limits described above.

[0024] The polymer of the present invention may be a polysaccharide component.

[0025] As used herein, the term "polysaccharide component" means a component consisting of one molecule of polysaccharide or two or more molecules of a plurality of polysaccharides. That is, the polysaccharide component contains only polysaccharides, but the polysaccharides contained in the polysaccharide component may be two or more molecules. When two or more polysaccharides are contained, the polysaccharides may be the same as or different from each other.

[0026] As used herein, the term "polysaccharide" has the meaning known in the art. Generally, a polysaccharide refers to a polymeric molecule in which two or more units are linked by covalent bonds. The covalent bond linking the units may be, for example, a glycosidic bond. The polysaccharide is a polymeric molecule, i.e., a polymer, and may have a weight average molecular weight within the range described above.

[0027] The units forming the polysaccharide may be biomolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, or consisting of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. As used herein, the term "biomolecule" is construed to have the meaning generally applied in the art. Usually, examples of biomolecules known in the art include monosaccharides such as glucose, galactose, fructose or xylose, disaccharides such as sucrose, lactose, maltose or trehalose, polyols such as sorbitol or mannitol, oligosaccharides such as maltodextrin, dextrin, raffinose, stachyose or fructooligosaccharides and / or amino sugars such as glucosamine or N-acetylglucosamine, but the types of biomolecules applicable in the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0028] When the polymer (e.g., polysaccharide component) contained in the polymer material is in a crosslinked state and has water absorption ability, the polymer material is also called the hydrogel polymer material or hydrogel.

[0029] In one example, the polymer material may be in the form of a powder formed through a pulverization process or the like.

[0030] The polymer material may contain only the polysaccharide component as the polymer, or may further contain other components in addition to the polysaccharide component. The polysaccharide component may exist in a crosslinked state within the polymer material.

[0031] Examples of other components that may be included together with the polysaccharide component in the polymer material are not particularly limited, and examples include a crosslinking agent that crosslinks the polysaccharide or a polymer different from the polysaccharide.

[0032] In one example, the lower limit of the weight ratio of the polysaccharide component in the polymer material may be about 55 wt%, 60 wt%, 65 wt%, 70 wt%, 75 wt%, 80 wt%, 85 wt%, 90 wt%, 92 wt%, 94 wt%, 96 wt% or 98 wt%, and the upper limit thereof may be about 100 wt%, 98 wt%, 96 wt%, 94 wt%, 92 wt% or 90 wt%. The weight ratio may be within the range of any of the above-mentioned lower limits or above the range of excess, within the range of any of the above-mentioned upper limits or below the range of deficiency, or within the range that is above or exceeds any of the above-mentioned lower limits but below or less than any of the above-mentioned upper limits.

[0033] There is no particular limitation on the proportion of the polysaccharide component in the polymer material, but the higher the proportion, the higher the biodegradability of the polymer material. In the present invention, by applying a specific type of polysaccharide component as the polysaccharide component, it is possible to perform appropriate crosslinking while not using a crosslinking agent that can reduce biodegradability or minimizing its usage amount, and the crosslinked material can simultaneously exhibit excellent water absorption ability and biodegradability.

[0034] When the polymer material is a water-absorbing material, the polymer material can exhibit a water content of about 40 to 70 wt%. In other examples, the water content may be about 45 wt% or more, 50 wt% or more or 55 wt% or more, and may be about 65 wt% or less or 60 wt% or less.

[0035] The moisture content is the content of moisture contained in the polymer material with respect to the total weight of the polymer to be measured, and can be calculated through the weight of the polymer material containing moisture and the weight of the dried polymer material. For example, in the process of drying by raising the temperature of the cream-like polymer material through infrared heating, the moisture content can be calculated through the weight loss due to the evaporation of moisture in the polymer material. The drying process for measuring the moisture content may include performing vacuum drying for about 6 hours while maintaining the temperature at 50°C after raising the temperature from room temperature to about 50°C. The polymer material can exhibit the moisture content in a state before or after cross-linking.

[0036] When the polymer material is a water-absorbing material, the lower limit of the centrifuge water retention capacity (CRC) of the polymer material according to the EDANA (European Disposables and Nonwovens Association) method WSP241.3 may be about 12 g / g, about 13 g / g, about 14 g / g, about 15 g / g, 16 g / g, 17 g / g, or about 17.5 g / g, and the upper limit may be about 60 g / g, 55 g / g, 50 g / g, 45 g / g, 40 g / g, 35 g / g, 30 g / g, 25 g / g, 20 g / g, 19 g / g, or 18 g / g. The centrifuge water retention capacity may be in a range above any of the aforementioned lower limits or in excess, in a range below or less than any of the aforementioned upper limits, or in a range above or in excess of any of the aforementioned lower limits while being below or less than any of the aforementioned upper limits. The polymer material can exhibit the centrifuge water retention capacity in a state before or after cross-linking.

[0037] When the polymer material is a water-absorbing material, the lower limit of the pressurized water absorption capacity (AUP) of the polymer material according to EDANA (European Disposables and Nonwovens Association) method WSP242.3 at 0.7 psi may be about 4 g / g, 6 g / g, 8 g / g, 10 g / g, 12 g / g, 14 g / g, 16 g / g, 18 g / g, 20 g / g, 22 g / g, 24 g / g or 26 g / g, and the upper limit thereof may be about 40 g / g, 38 g / g, 36 g / g, 34 g / g or about 32 g / g. The water absorption capacity under pressure may be in the range above or exceeding any of the lower limits described above, in the range below or less than any of the upper limits described above, or in the range above or exceeding any of the lower limits described above while being below or less than any of the upper limits described above. The polymer material can exhibit the water absorption capacity under pressure in the state before or after crosslinking.

[0038] When the polymer material exhibits at least one of the characteristics of the water content, the water retention capacity by centrifugation, and the water absorption capacity under pressure described above, the material can be defined as a water-absorbing material.

[0039] The polymer material can exhibit excellent biodegradability. For example, the polymer material may be the water-absorbing material and at the same time a biodegradable material. For example, the lower limit of the biodegradability of the polymer material may be about 60%, 62%, 64%, 66%, 68%, 70%, 72%, 74%, 76%, 78%, 80%, 82%, 84%, 86% or 88%, and the upper limit thereof may be about 100%, 98%, 96%, 94%, 92%, 90% or 88%. The biodegradability may be in the range equal to or exceeding any of the lower limits described above, in the range less than or below any of the upper limits described above, or in the range equal to or exceeding any of the lower limits described above while being less than or below any of the upper limits described above. The polymer material can exhibit biodegradability in a state before or after crosslinking. The biodegradability is confirmed in accordance with the KS M ISO 14851 standard. Biodegradability varies depending on the measurement method. For example, KS M ISO 14855-1 is a method for measuring biodegradability through carbon dioxide under composting conditions, but a higher numerical value of biodegradability is measured for the same substance compared to other measurement methods, and it cannot well represent the biodegradability of the substance in the actual environment. The KSM ISO 14851 standard is a method for measuring the aerobic biodegradability of a polymer material in an aqueous medium (measurement of oxygen consumption by a closed respiratory system), and the biodegradability of this method can well reflect the biodegradation characteristics of the substance in the actual environment.

[0040] The polymer material of the present invention can exhibit excellent water absorbency and biodegradability as described above.

[0041] Such materials can be ensured by applying the polysaccharide components described below as the polysaccharide components. Generally, polymer materials based on polysaccharides are excellent in biodegradability, but their water absorption capacity decreases, and the crosslinking efficiency for application as water-absorbing materials also decreases. Therefore, generally, in order to form a water-absorbing material from a polysaccharide-based material, it is obtained by a method of blending other components with the polysaccharide instead of applying only the polysaccharide. However, in the present invention, a polysaccharide component in which a specific type of functional group is introduced at a predetermined ratio is applied as the polysaccharide component. Such a polysaccharide component can be crosslinked without using a crosslinking agent that may have an adverse effect on biodegradability or while applying a minimum amount, and self-crosslinking described below is also possible. Such a polysaccharide component can simultaneously exhibit excellent water absorption capacity and biodegradability after crosslinking. In this specification, the crosslinking means the first crosslinking for crosslinking a non-crosslinked polysaccharide component. That is, the polysaccharide component may be crosslinked without using a crosslinking agent that may have an adverse effect on the biodegradability or while applying a minimum amount, or may be further crosslinked when necessary after the self-crosslinking. In such further crosslinking, a crosslinking agent such as an acrylate-based crosslinking agent may also be used.

[0042] As described above, a polysaccharide is a polymer substance in which two or more units are linked by a covalent bond such as a glycosidic bond. Representative known polysaccharides include starch, dextrin, or chitosan.

[0043] In one example, when the polysaccharide is starch, the weight ratio of amylose and amylopectin in the starch (amylose: amylopectin) may be in the range of about 1:99 to 50:50. In this case, the functional groups described below may be introduced into either amylose or amylopectin, or may be introduced into both. The reaction for introducing the functional groups described below can occur in both amylose and amylopectin, but when the content of amylopectin is higher than the content of amylose, more efficient modification is possible.

[0044] For example, the starch may have a gelatinization temperature in the range of about 50°C to 90°C and a peak viscosity (BU) in the range of 50 to 1000.

[0045] As the starch, known starches may be applied without particular limitation. For example, one or more selected from potato starch, corn starch, rice starch, wheat starch, tapioca starch, and high molecular weight starch may be applied.

[0046] Such a polysaccharide may contain at least two or more monosaccharide units linked by a covalent bond (for example, a glycosidic bond). At this time, examples of the monosaccharide unit include the biomolecules described above. Specifically, glucose, galactose, fructose, xylose, glucosamine, or N-acetylglucosamine, etc. may be mentioned, but it is not limited thereto.

[0047] At least one of the units contained in the polysaccharide may be a modified monosaccharide unit. The modified monosaccharide unit means a unit into which a functional group that did not exist in the original unit has been introduced by chemical treatment.

[0048] In one example, the functional group introduced into the modified monosaccharide unit is represented by, for example, the following Chemical Formula 1.

[0049]

Chemical formula

[0050] In Chemical Formula 1, M 1 is hydrogen or a metal. In Chemical Formula 1, when M 1 is a metal, the bond of O-M 1 is an ionic bond.

[0051] In the functional group of Chemical Formula 1, the oxygen atom on the left side in Chemical Formula 1 may be bonded to the skeleton of the unit and introduced into the unit.

[0052] In the functional group of Chemical Formula 1, the carbon-carbon double bond may be present in the polymer while maintaining the double bond, or may be present in the polymer in a state where the double bond is involved in a cross-linking bond.

[0053] In Chemical Formula 1, M 1 is hydrogen or a metal. There is no particular limitation on the type of the metal, and it may usually be an alkali metal such as lithium, sodium, potassium or cesium. Such a metal may exist in the form of a cation.

[0054] In the polymer, a functional group in which M 1 is hydrogen and a functional group in which M 1 is a metal may be present simultaneously.

[0055] The functional group may be introduced by reacting the polysaccharide with an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or its anhydride to substitute a hydroxy group or the like present in the unit of the polymer with the functional group. Examples of the dicarboxylic acid or its anhydride include maleic acid or maleic anhydride, but are not limited thereto, and salts of maleic acid or the like may also be applied.

[0056] In the polysaccharide, the substitution rate of the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 may be within a predetermined range. The lower limit of the substitution rate may be about 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95%, and the upper limit thereof may be about 300%, 295%, 290%, 285%, 280%, 275%, 270%, 265%, 260%, 255%, 250%, 245%, 240%, 235%, 230%, 225%, 220%, 215%, 210%, 205%, 200%, 195%, 190%, 185%, 180%, 175%, 170%, 165%, 160%, 155%, 150%, 145%, 140%, 135%, 130%, 125%, 120%, 115%, 110%, 105%, 100%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, 70%, 65%, 60%, 55%, 50%, 45% or 40%. The substitution rate may be in a range that is equal to or greater than any of the lower limits described above, less than or below any of the upper limits described above, or in a range that is equal to or greater than any of the lower limits described above while being less than or below any of the upper limits described above. Crosslinking of the polysaccharide component may be effectively carried out within the range of the substitution rate, and the physical properties of the resulting polymer material (for example, water absorption capacity and / or biodegradability, etc.) can also be stably ensured.

[0057] In this specification, the substitution rate is a value indicating the degree to which the hydroxy groups present in each unit of the polysaccharide are substituted by a predetermined functional group (for example, the functional group of Chemical Formula 1), and is the average value of the degree of substitution of each unit present in the polysaccharide. For example, when the unit is a glucose unit, there are three hydroxy groups in the unit before modification. Therefore, when all of the hydroxy groups are substituted by the functional group of Chemical Formula 1, the substitution rate for the unit is 300%. However, since the substitution rate of the polysaccharide is the average value of the degree of substitution of each unit present in the polysaccharide, for example, in a polysaccharide containing five glucose units, if the substitution rates of each unit are 100%, 0%, 200%, 300%, and 100%, the substitution rate of the polysaccharide is 140%, which is the average value. Such a substitution rate can be confirmed through 1 1H NMR analysis. That is, since the hydroxy groups and the substituted functional groups present in the polysaccharide can be quantified through 1 1H NMR analysis, the substitution rate can be confirmed, and if necessary, the substitution rate can be calculated based on the 1 1H NMR analysis results of the polysaccharide before modification. In this way, the method of quantifying the functional group through 1 1H NMR analysis is known.

[0058] In one example, the unit containing the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 may be a unit represented by the following Chemical Formula 2.

[0059]

Chemical Formula

[0060] In Chemical Formula 2, R 1 may be a hydroxy group, an amino group, or an alkylcarbonylamino group. In Chemical Formula 2, L 1 may be an alkylene group or an alkylidene group. In Chemical Formula 2, M 1 may be hydrogen or a metal.

[0061] In Chemical Formula 2, M 1 When it is a metal, the O-M bond in Chemical Formula 2 1 may be an ionic bond.

[0062] The specific type of the metal of M in Chemical Formula 2 1 is as described in Chemical Formula 1.

[0063] In Chemical Formula 2, the specific types of the alkyl, alkylene group or alkylidene group are the same as those defined at the beginning of this specification.

[0064] As described in Chemical Formula 1, the carbon-carbon double bond of the functional group in Chemical Formula 2 may be present in the polymer while maintaining the double bond, or may be present in the polymer in a state where the double bond is involved in a cross-linking bond.

[0065] In the polymer, a functional group in which M 1 is hydrogen and a functional group in which M 1 is a metal may be present simultaneously.

[0066] In Chemical Formula 2, when R 1 is a hydroxy group, usually, it is the case where the unit is derived from a so-called glucose unit, and when R 1 is an amino group, it is the case where the unit is usually derived from a so-called glucosamine unit, and when R 1 is an alkylcarbonylamino group, it represents the case where the unit is derived from N-acetylglucosamine.

[0067] In one example, the functional group introduced into the modified monosaccharide unit may be, for example, a functional group represented by the following Chemical Formula 3.

[0068]

Chemical Formula

[0069] In Chemical Formula 3, L 2may be an alkylene group or an alkylidene group. In Chemical Formula 3, M 2 may be hydrogen or a metal. In Chemical Formula 3, M 2 When M is a metal, the O-M 2 bond may be an ionic bond.

[0070] In Chemical Formula 3, the specific types of the alkylene group or the alkylidene group are the same as those defined at the beginning of this specification.

[0071] The functional group of Chemical Formula 3 may be bonded to the skeleton of the unit body on the left side in the Chemical Formula 3 2 and introduced into the unit body.

[0072] In Chemical Formula 3, M 2 is hydrogen or a metal. There is no particular limitation on the type of the metal, and it may usually be an alkali metal such as lithium, sodium, potassium or cesium.

[0073] In the polysaccharide, in Chemical Formula 3, the functional group in which M 2 is hydrogen and the functional group in which M 2 is a metal may exist simultaneously.

[0074] The functional group may be introduced by reacting the polysaccharide with a chloroacetic acid such as chloroacetate to substitute the hydroxy group present in the unit body of the polymer with the functional group.

[0075] The lower limit of the substitution rate of the functional group of the polysaccharide of Chemical Formula 3 may be about 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95%, and the upper limit may be about 300%, 295%, 290%, 285%, 280%, 275%, 270%, 265%, 260%, 255%, 250%, 245%, 240%, 235%, 230%, 225%, 220%, 215%, 210%, 205%, 200%, 195%, 190%, 185%, 180%, 175%, 170%, 165%, 160%, 155%, 150%, 145%, 140%, 135%, 130%, 125%, 120%, 115%, 110%, 105%, 100%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75% or 70%. The substitution rate may be in the range of any one of the lower limits described above or exceeding the range, in the range of any one of the upper limits described above or less than the range, or in the range of exceeding any one of the lower limits described above while being less than any one of the upper limits described above. Crosslinking of the polysaccharide component may be effectively carried out within the range of the substitution rate, and the physical properties (such as water absorption ability and / or biodegradability, etc.) of the obtained polymer material can also be stably ensured. The definition of the substitution rate is as defined for the functional group of Chemical Formula 1, and similarly for the polysaccharide 1 can be confirmed through 1H NMR analysis.

[0076] In one example, the unit containing the functional group of Chemical Formula 3 may be a unit represented by the following Chemical Formula 4.

[0077]

Chemical Formula

[0078] In Chemical Formula 4, R 2 may be a hydroxy group, an amino group or an alkylcarbonylamino group, and L 2 and L 3 may each independently be an alkylene group or an alkylidene group, and M 2may be hydrogen or a metal.

[0079] In Chemical Formula 4, when M 2 is a metal, the O-M 2 bond may be an ionic bond. In Chemical Formula 4, the specific type of the metal of M 2 is as described in Chemical Formula 3.

[0080] In Chemical Formula 4, the specific types of the alkyl, alkylene group or alkylidene group are the same as those defined at the beginning of this specification.

[0081] In the polysaccharide, in Chemical Formula 4, a functional group in which M 2 is hydrogen and a functional group in which M 2 is a metal may coexist.

[0082] In the polysaccharide component contained in the polymer material, the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 and the functional group of Chemical Formula 3 may coexist. For example, in one molecule of the polysaccharide, the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 and the functional group of Chemical Formula 3 may coexist, or all of the polysaccharides having the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 and the polysaccharides having the functional group of Chemical Formula 3 may be contained in the polymer material.

[0083] Therefore, in the polysaccharide contained in the polymer material, the unit of Chemical Formula 2 and the unit of Chemical Formula 4 may coexist. For example, in one molecule of the polysaccharide, the unit of Chemical Formula 2 and the unit of Chemical Formula 4 may coexist, or all of the polysaccharides having the unit of Chemical Formula 2 and the polysaccharides having the unit of Chemical Formula 4 may be contained in the polymer material.

[0084] In one example, the polymer material may contain a polysaccharide component containing a modified monosaccharide unit (for example, the modified monosaccharide unit of Chemical Formula 2) containing the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 and a modified monosaccharide unit (for example, the modified monosaccharide unit of Chemical Formula 4) containing the functional group of Chemical Formula 3.

[0085] When a polysaccharide of one molecule contains both a modified monosaccharide unit containing a functional group of Chemical Formula 1 and a modified monosaccharide unit containing a functional group of Chemical Formula 3 as described above, the lower limit of the substitution rate of the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 in the polysaccharide may be about 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% or 35%, and the upper limit thereof may be about 300%, 295%, 290%, 285%, 280%, 275%, 270%, 265%, 260%, 255%, 250%, 245%, 240%, 235%, 230%, 225%, 220%, 215%, 210%, 205%, 200%, 195%, 190%, 185%, 180%, 175%, 170%, 165%, 160%, 155%, 150%, 145%, 140%, 135%, 130%, 125%, 120%, 115%, 110%, 105%, 100%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, 70%, 65%, 60%, 55%, 50%, 45% or 40%. The substitution rate may be in the range of any one of the lower limits described above or in the range of exceeding the lower limit, in the range of any one of the upper limits described above or in the range of less than the upper limit, or in the range of any one of the lower limits described above or in the range of exceeding the lower limit while being in the range of any one of the upper limits described above or in the range of less than the upper limit. Crosslinking of the polysaccharide may be effectively carried out within the range of the substitution rate, and the physical properties (for example, water absorption ability and / or biodegradability, etc.) of the resulting polymer material can also be stably ensured.

[0086] When a polysaccharide of one molecule contains all of a modified monosaccharide unit containing a functional group of Chemical Formula 1 and a modified monosaccharide unit containing a functional group of Chemical Formula 3, the lower limit of the substitution rate of the functional group of Chemical Formula 3 may be about 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60% or 65%, and the upper limit thereof may be about 300%, 295%, 290%, 285%, 280%, 275%, 270%, 265%, 260%, 255%, 250%, 245%, 240%, 235%, 230%, 225%, 220%, 215%, 210%, 205%, 200%, 195%, 190%, 185%, 180%, 175%, 170%, 165%, 160%, 155%, 150%, 145%, 140%, 135%, 130%, 125%, 120%, 115%, 110%, 105%, 100%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75% or 70%. The substitution rate may be in the range above or exceeding any of the lower limits described above, below or less than any of the upper limits described above, or above or exceeding any of the lower limits described above while being below or less than any of the upper limits described above. Crosslinking of the polysaccharide may be effectively carried out within the range of the substitution rate, and physical properties (for example, water absorption ability and / or biodegradability, etc.) of the obtained polymer material can also be stably ensured.

[0087] In other examples, the polymer material may include a polysaccharide component including a first polysaccharide including a modified monosaccharide unit containing a functional group of Chemical Formula 1 (for example, the modified monosaccharide unit of Chemical Formula 2) and a second polysaccharide including a modified monosaccharide unit containing a functional group of Chemical Formula 3 (for example, the modified monosaccharide unit of Chemical Formula 4).

[0088] In this case, the lower limit of the substitution rate of the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 in the first polysaccharide may be about 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95% or more, and the upper limit thereof may be about 300%, 295%, 290%, 285%, 280%, 275%, 270%, 265%, 260%, 255%, 250%, 245%, 240%, 235%, 230%, 225%, 220%, 215%, 210%, 205%, 200%, 195%, 190%, 185%, 180%, 175%, 170%, 165%, 160%, 155%, 150%, 145%, 140%, 135%, 130%, 125%, 120%, 115%, 110%, 105% or 100%. The substitution rate may be in the range of equal to or exceeding any of the aforementioned lower limits, equal to or less than any of the aforementioned upper limits, or in the range of equal to or exceeding any of the aforementioned lower limits while being equal to or less than any of the aforementioned upper limits. Crosslinking of the polysaccharide may be effectively carried out within the range of the substitution rate, and the physical properties (such as water absorption ability and / or biodegradability, etc.) of the resulting polymer material can also be stably ensured.

[0089] In the above case, the lower limit of the substitution rate of the functional group of the chemical formula 3 in the second polysaccharide may be about 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100%, 105%, 110%, 115% or 120%, and the upper limit thereof may be about 300%, 295%, 290%, 285%, 280%, 275%, 270%, 265%, 260%, 255%, 250%, 245%, 240%, 235%, 230%, 225%, 220%, 215%, 210%, 205%, 200%, 195%, 190%, 185%, 180%, 175%, 170%, 165%, 160%, 155%, 150%, 145%, 140%, 135%, 130%, 125%, 120%, 115%, 110%, 105% or 100%. The substitution rate may be in the range above or exceeding any of the lower limits described above, below or less than any of the upper limits described above, or above or exceeding any of the lower limits described above while being below or less than any of the upper limits described above. Crosslinking of the polysaccharide may be effectively carried out within the range of the substitution rate, and physical properties (for example, water absorption ability and / or biodegradability, etc.) of the obtained polymer material can also be stably ensured.

[0090] In the above case, the upper limit of the weight ratio of the second polysaccharide to 100 parts by weight of the first polysaccharide in the polysaccharide component may be about 4000 parts by weight, 3800 parts by weight, 3600 parts by weight, 3400 parts by weight, 3200 parts by weight, 3000 parts by weight, 2800 parts by weight, 2600 parts by weight, 2400 parts by weight, 2200 parts by weight, 2000 parts by weight, 1800 parts by weight, 1600 parts by weight, 1400 parts by weight, 1200 parts by weight, 1000 parts by weight, 950 parts by weight, 900 parts by weight, 850 parts by weight, 800 parts by weight, 750 parts by weight, 700 parts by weight, 650 parts by weight, 600 parts by weight, 550 parts by weight, 500 parts by weight, 450 parts by weight, 400 parts by weight, 350 parts by weight, 300 parts by weight, 250 parts by weight, 200 parts by weight, 150 parts by weight, 100 parts by weight, 90 parts by weight, 80 parts by weight, 70 parts by weight, 60 parts by weight, 50 parts by weight, 40 parts by weight, 30 parts by weight or 20 parts by weight, and the lower limit thereof may be about 2800 parts by weight, 2600 parts by weight, 2400 parts by weight, 2200 parts by weight, 2000 parts by weight, 1800 parts by weight, 1600 parts by weight, 1400 parts by weight, 1200 parts by weight, 1000 parts by weight, 950 parts by weight, 850 parts by weight, 800 parts by weight, 750 parts by weight, 700 parts by weight, 650 parts by weight, 600 parts by weight, 550 parts by weight, 500 parts by weight, 450 parts by weight, 400 parts by weight, 350 parts by weight, 300 parts by weight, 250 parts by weight, 200 parts by weight, 150 parts by weight, 100 parts by weight, 90 parts by weight, 80 parts by weight, 70 parts by weight, 60 parts by weight, 50 parts by weight, 40 parts by weight, 30 parts by weight, 20 parts by weight, 15 parts by weight or 10 parts by weight. The weight ratio may be in the range above or exceeding any of the aforementioned lower limits, below or less than any of the aforementioned upper limits, or above or exceeding any of the aforementioned lower limits while being below or less than any of the aforementioned upper limits. Crosslinking of the polysaccharide may be effectively carried out within the range of the ratio, and the physical properties (such as water absorption ability and / or biodegradability, etc.) of the resulting polymer material can also be stably ensured.

[0091] The polymer, such as the polymer material or the polysaccharide component, may have an appropriate level of molecular weight. For example, in one example, the polymer material or polymer may have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) in the range of about 500 g / mol to 1,000,000 g / mol. Within such a range, a desired sufficient degree of crosslinking can be imparted to the polymer material as needed, and the resulting polymer material can stably exhibit desired properties (such as biodegradability and water absorption capacity).

[0092] In one example, the polysaccharide within the polymer material may be contained in a crosslinked state. Such crosslinking of the polysaccharide can be achieved through double bonds present in functional groups (for example, the functional groups of Chemical Formula 1). Such crosslinking of the polysaccharide may be achieved by the double bonds of the polysaccharide itself or may be achieved through the application of a so-called crosslinking agent.

[0093] At this time, there are no special restrictions on the types of applicable crosslinking agents. For example, usually, in the production of crosslinked polyacrylic acid applied to SAP, a crosslinking agent applied as a so-called internal crosslinking agent or a crosslinking agent applied as an external crosslinking agent may be applied, or both of them may be applied.

[0094] Examples of such crosslinking agents include polyethylene glycol diacrylate, N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide, trimethylolpropane tri(meth)acrylate, ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, propylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, polypropylene glycol (meth)acrylate, butanediol di(meth)acrylate, butylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, diethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, hexanediol di(meth)acrylate, triethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, tripropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, tetraethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, glycerin tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, triarylamine, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, propylene glycol, glycerin, and / or ethylene carbonate. In the present invention, an appropriate crosslinking agent may be selected and used from among the above-known crosslinking agents as necessary.

[0095] When such a crosslinking agent is applied, its ratio is not particularly limited, and an appropriate ratio may be selected in consideration of the desired degree of crosslinking. For example, such a crosslinking agent may not be used, or may be used at the ratio described below.

[0096] In one example, the polysaccharide may be contained in the polymer material in a self-crosslinked state. As used herein, the term "self-crosslinked" means the case where the polysaccharide component is crosslinked without using a separate crosslinking agent, or the case where the crosslinking is performed using a minimal amount of crosslinking agent, which relates to the primary crosslinking described above. That is, the polysaccharide component after self-crosslinking may be further crosslinked. Such further crosslinking may be, for example, a surface treatment of the so-called self-crosslinked polysaccharide component.

[0097] Through crosslinking by such a method, a polymer material excellent in water absorption ability and biodegradability can be provided. Usually, in the case of a polysaccharide component, even when the crosslinking efficiency decreases and a crosslinkable functional group is introduced, efficient crosslinking is not carried out. However, in the case of the present invention, the self-crosslinking can be effectively carried out through the application of the specific polysaccharide component described above.

[0098] In the amount of the crosslinking agent used in the use of the minimum crosslinking agent, there is no particular limitation as long as it is adjusted to a level that does not adversely affect the degree of biodegradation. For example, the upper limit of the ratio of the crosslinking agent to 100 parts by weight of the polysaccharide component may be about 10 parts by weight, 9 parts by weight, 8 parts by weight, 7 parts by weight, 6 parts by weight, 5 parts by weight, 4 parts by weight, 3 parts by weight, 2 parts by weight, 1 part by weight, 0.5 part by weight, 0.1 part by weight, 0.05 part by weight, 0.01 part by weight, 0.005 part by weight or 0.001 part by weight, and the lower limit may be about 0 part by weight. The ratio of the crosslinking agent may be in the range below or less than any of the upper limits described above, or may be above or exceeding any of the lower limits described above, but in the range below or less than any of the upper limits described above.

[0099] There is no particular limitation on the method for performing the self-crosslinking. The self-crosslinking may be carried out, for example, in the presence of an oxidizing agent such as ammonium persulfate or other initiators.

[0100] In the crosslinking environment, crosslinking or polymerization by the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 present in the polysaccharide component and crosslinking or polymerization or grafting by the radical generated by oxidation by the oxidizing agent and the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 may proceed to carry out crosslinking.

[0101] The polymer material exhibits excellent water absorption and biodegradability and may be used for various applications.

[0102] For example, the polymer material may be used as a water-absorbing material applied to sanitary products such as diapers and sanitary napkins, and other applications that require water absorption. If necessary, in order to improve the efficiency of use as the sanitary product or water-absorbing material, further cross-linking, surface treatment, or physical pulverization processes may be performed on the polymer material.

[0103] Therefore, the present invention relates to a water-absorbing material or a sanitary product (for example, diapers, sanitary napkins, etc.) containing the polymer material.

[0104] There is no particular limitation on the specific method of applying the polymer material to form the water-absorbing material or the sanitary product. For example, a method of configuring the water-absorbing material or the sanitary product by applying conventional SAP may be similarly used.

Advantages of the Invention

[0105] The present invention can provide a polymer material having excellent biodegradability and water absorption ability and its uses.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0106]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0107] The present invention will be specifically described through the following examples and comparative examples, but the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following examples.

[0108] 1. Evaluation of Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) The Centrifugal Retention Capacity (CRC) was measured according to EDANA (European Disposables and Nonwovens Association) WSP241.3. Approximately 0.2 g (W 0 ) of the sample (polymer material) was placed in a non-woven bag, sealed, and then immersed in physiological saline. As the physiological saline, an aqueous solution of NaCl with a concentration of 0.9 wt% was used. The immersed state was maintained for about 30 minutes, and after removing water from the bag for 3 minutes under the condition of 250G using a centrifuge, the mass of the bag (g, W 2 ) was measured. The same operation was also performed on the same non-woven bag without the sample, and the mass (g, W 1 ) was measured.

[0109] The measurement results were substituted into the following formula A to calculate CRC (g / g).

[0110] The above evaluation was carried out under constant temperature and humidity conditions (23 ± 1 °C, relative humidity: 50 ± 10%).

[0111] [Formula A] CRC (g / g) = {[W 2 (g) - W 1 (g)] / W 0 (g)} - 1

[0112] 2. Measurement of biodegradability The biodegradability was measured according to the method specified in the KS M ISO 14851 standard. The biodegradability varies depending on the measurement method. For example, KS M ISO 14855-1 is a method for measuring biodegradability through carbon dioxide under composting conditions, but a higher numerical biodegradability is measured for the same substance compared to other measurement methods, and it cannot well represent the biodegradability of the substance in the actual environment. The KS M ISO 14851 standard is a method for measuring the aerobic biodegradability of polymer materials in an aqueous medium (measurement of oxygen consumption by a closed respiratory system), and the biodegradability of this method well reflects the biodegradation characteristics of substances in the actual environment. The method for measuring biodegradability according to the KS M ISO 14851 standard is known.

[0113] Production Example 1 A polysaccharide (modified starch) (Compound A) containing a modified monosaccharide unit of the following Chemical Formula A was produced in the following manner. The modified monosaccharide unit of the following Chemical Formula A is a monosaccharide unit into which a maleic acid group (a substituent in Chemical Formula 1 where M 1 is a hydrogen atom) is introduced.

[0114]

Chemical Formula

[0115] 20 g of starch and 50 mL of water were placed in a 500 mL RBF (Round Bottom Flask) and stirred at room temperature (about 25°C), and then 50 mL of a 2.0 M NaOH solution was added. As the starch, potato starch was used. Stirring was continued for another 2 hours for gelatinization, about 100 g of maleic anhydride was added, and the reaction was carried out at 65°C for about 5 hours. After completion of the reaction, the temperature was lowered to room temperature (about 25°C), and acetone was added to form a precipitate. The precipitate was collected and dried in a vacuum drying oven at 40°C for 1 day to obtain the solid target product (Compound A). The substitution rate of the obtained target product (Compound A) can be determined 1 through 1H NMR analysis. 1 The 1H NMR analysis is carried out at room temperature (about 25°C) using a Varian Unity Inova (500 MHz) spectrometer equipped with a triple resonance 5 mm probe 1 as the 1H NMR spectrometer. In the above 1 1H NMR analysis, a Bruker Avance Neo instrument was used. 50 mg of the obtained target product (Compound A) and 200 mg of a 30% DCl in D 2 2O solution were mixed, and after stirring at 50°C for about 1 hour to induce a hydrolysis reaction, the above 1 1H NMR analysis may be carried out. Through the above 1 1H NMR analysis, the substitution rate of the maleic acid group into the starch was confirmed. Figure 1 shows the result of the 1 1H NMR analysis performed on Compound A, and the substitution rate calculated based on this was about 98%.

[0116] Production Example 2 Starch (Compound B) containing the modified monosaccharide unit of the following Chemical Formula B was produced in the following manner. The modified monosaccharide unit of the following Chemical Formula B is a monosaccharide unit into which a functional group derived from sodium acetate (M in Chemical Formula 3 2 is sodium and L 2 is a substituent that is a methylidene group) is introduced.

[0117]

Chemical Formula

[0118] 20 g of starch and 50 mL of water were placed in a 500 mL RBF (Round Bottom Flask), stirred at room temperature (about 25°C), and then 50 mL of a 2.0 M NaOH solution was added. The same starch as in Production Example 1 was used. Stirring was continued for another 2 hours to gelatinize it, about 100 g of sodium monochloroacetate was added, and the reaction was carried out at 65°C for 5 hours. After completion of the reaction, the temperature was lowered to room temperature (about 25°C), and acetone was added to form a precipitate. The precipitate was collected and dried in a vacuum drying oven at 40°C for 1 day to obtain the solid target product (Compound B).

[0119] The same method as in Production Example 1 was carried out for the target product (Compound B). 1 The results of 1H NMR analysis are shown in Figure 2. The substitution rate confirmed from the results of Figure 2 was about 120%.

[0120] Production Example 3 The starch (Compound C) containing the modified monosaccharide units represented by Chemical Formulas A and B of Production Examples 1 and 2 simultaneously was produced in the following manner. 20 g of starch and 50 mL of water were placed in a 500 mL RBF (Round Bottom Flask), stirred at room temperature (about 25°C), and then 50 mL of a 2.0 M NaOH solution was added. The same type of starch as in Production Example 1 was used. Stirring was continued for another 2 hours for gelatinization, about 14 g of sodium monochloroacetate and about 10 g of maleic anhydride were added, and the reaction was carried out at 65°C for 5 hours. After completion of the reaction, the temperature was lowered to room temperature (about 25°C), and acetone was added to form a precipitate. The precipitate was recovered and dried in a vacuum drying oven at 40°C for 1 day to obtain the solid target product (Compound C). The same method as in Production Example 1 was carried out for the said target product (Compound C). 1 The H NMR analysis results are shown in Figure 3. From the analysis results in Figure 3, the substitution rate of the maleic acid group of the target product (Compound C) confirmed was about 37%, and the substitution rate of the functional group derived from sodium acetate was about 68%.

[0121] Example 1. 50 mL of distilled water, 2.5 g of the compound of Production Example 1 (Compound A), and 0.5 g of the compound of Production Example 2 (Compound B) were put into a 250 mL RBF (Round Bottom Flask), and the mixture was stirred in an oil bath at 35°C for 30 minutes or more to sufficiently mix Compounds A and B in the distilled water. Then, an initiator was added. As the initiator, about 0.03 g of ammonium persulfate was added. After adding the initiator, stirring was continued at a temperature of about 70°C for about 4 hours to carry out crosslinking between Compounds A and B. After crosslinking, ethanol was added to precipitate a polymer material containing the crosslinked polymer, and after filtration, it was dried in a vacuum drying oven at 0°C overnight to obtain the desired target polymer material.

[0122] Examples 2 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 Polymers were produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the amounts of the compounds added for polymerization were changed as shown in Table 1 below. In the following table, the unit of content is g.

[0123]

Table 1

[0124] Comparative Example 3 50 mL of distilled water, 2.5 g of the compound of Production Example 1 (Compound A), 0.5 g of the compound of Production Example 2 (Compound B), 6.8 mg of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (number average molecular weight: 575 g / mol), 0.24 mg of bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenylphosphine oxide, and 3.6 mg of sodium persulfate were added to a 250 mL RBF (Round Bottom Flask), and the mixture was stirred in an oil bath at 35°C for 30 minutes or more to thoroughly mix Compound A and B in distilled water. The mixture was irradiated with ultraviolet light in a UV chamber at 80°C for 60 seconds (irradiation dose: 10 mV / cm 2 ) and then maintained for about 2 minutes to effect crosslinking. After crosslinking, ethanol was added to precipitate a polymer material containing the crosslinked polymer, and after filtration, it was dried overnight in a vacuum drying oven at 40°C to obtain the desired polymer material.

[0125] The CRC and biodegradability measured for the polymers of the above Examples and Comparative Examples are summarized in Table 2 below.

[0126]

Table 2

[0127] As shown in the results of Table 2, the polymer material according to the Examples of the present invention exhibited excellent water absorption characteristics and biodegradability at the same time. Comparative Example 1 is the case where only Compound A was applied. In this case, although a certain degree of biodegradability was ensured, the water absorption characteristics were greatly reduced. Comparative Example 2 is the case where only Compound B was applied, and both the water absorption ability and biodegradability were reduced. Comparative Example 3 is the case where the same materials as in Example 1 were applied, but a method using an acrylate-based crosslinking agent instead of the self-crosslinking method was applied. In this case, the water absorption ability was ensured, but the biodegradability was greatly reduced.

Claims

1. A polymer material containing a polysaccharide component, having a water retention capacity by centrifugation of 13 g / g or more according to the EDANA method WSP241.3, and having a biodegradability of 70% or more according to the KS M ISO 14851 standard.

2. The polymer material according to claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide component includes a polysaccharide having modified monosaccharide units.

3. The polymer material according to claim 2, wherein the modified monosaccharide unit contains a functional group of the following Chemical Formula 1. 【Chemical 1】 In Chemical Formula 1, M １ is hydrogen or a metal. When M １ is a metal, the bond of O-M １ is an ionic bond, and in the Chemical Formula 1, the carbon-carbon double bond may form a crosslinked structure.

4. The polymer material according to claim 3, wherein the substitution rate of the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 in the polysaccharide is in the range of 10% to 300%.

5. The polymer material according to claim 2, wherein the modified monosaccharide unit is represented by the following Chemical Formula 2. [Chemical 2] In Chemical Formula 2, R １ is a hydroxy group, an amino group or an alkylcarbonylamino group, L １ is an alkylene group or an alkylidene group, M １ is hydrogen or a metal, and when M １ is a metal, the bond of O-M １ is an ionic bond, and in the Chemical Formula 2, the carbon-carbon double bond may react to form a cross-linked structure.

6. The polymer material according to claim 2, wherein the modified monosaccharide unit contains a functional group of the following Chemical Formula 3. 【Chemical Formula 3】 In Chemical Formula 3, L ２ is an alkylene group or an alkylidene group, and M ２ is hydrogen or a metal. When M ２ is a metal, the O-M ２ bond is an ionic bond.

7. The polymer material according to claim 6, wherein the substitution rate of the functional group of Chemical Formula 3 in the polysaccharide is in the range of 10% to 300%.

8. The polymer material according to claim 2, wherein the modified monosaccharide unit is represented by the following Chemical Formula 4. [Chemical Formula 4] In Chemical Formula 4, R ２ is a hydroxy group, an amino group or an alkylcarbonylamino group, L ２ and L ３ are each independently an alkylene group or an alkylidene group, M ２ is hydrogen or a metal, and when M ２ is a metal, the O-M ２ bond is an ionic bond.

9. The polymer material according to claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide component includes a polysaccharide containing a modified monosaccharide unit having a functional group of the following Chemical Formula 1 and a modified monosaccharide unit having a functional group of the following Chemical Formula 3. 【Chemical Formula 5】 In Chemical Formula 1, M １ is hydrogen or a metal. When M １ is a metal, the bond of O-M １ is an ionic bond. In the Chemical Formula 1, the carbon-carbon double bond may react to form a crosslinked structure. In Chemical Formula 3, L ２ is an alkylene group or an alkylidene group, M ２ is hydrogen or a metal. When M ２ is a metal, the bond of O-M ２ is an ionic bond.

10. The polymer material according to claim 9, wherein the substitution rate of the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 in the polysaccharide is in the range of 10% to 300%, and the substitution rate of the functional group of Chemical Formula 3 in the polysaccharide is in the range of 10% to 300%.

11. The polymer material according to claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide component includes a first polysaccharide containing a modified monosaccharide unit having a functional group of the following Chemical Formula 1 and a second polysaccharide containing a modified monosaccharide unit having a functional group of the following Chemical Formula 3. [Chemical Formula 6] In Chemical Formula 1, M １ is hydrogen or a metal. When M １ is a metal, the bond of O-M １ is an ionic bond. In the Chemical Formula 1, the carbon-carbon double bond may react to form a crosslinked structure. In Chemical Formula 3, L ２ is an alkylene group or an alkylidene group. M ２ is hydrogen or a metal. When M ２ is a metal, the bond of O-M ２ is an ionic bond.

12. The polymer material according to claim 11, wherein the substitution rate of the functional group of Chemical Formula 1 in the first polysaccharide is in the range of 10% to 300%, and the substitution rate of the functional group of Chemical Formula 3 in the second polysaccharide is in the range of 10% to 300%.

13. The polymer material according to claim 11, containing 10 to 4000 parts by weight of the second polysaccharide with respect to 100 parts by weight of the first polysaccharide.

14. The polymer material according to claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide is contained in a cross-linked state.

15. The polymer material according to claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide is included in a self-crosslinked state. **Claim 16** The polymer material according to claim 1, which does not contain a crosslinking agent or contains 10 parts by weight or less of a crosslinking agent based on 100 parts by weight of the polysaccharide component. **Claim 17** A water-absorbing material comprising the polymer material according to any one of claims 1 to 16. **Claim 18** A sanitary product comprising the polymer material according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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