Polyacrylamide Granules With Water-Destroyable Binders for Rapid Hydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polyacrylamide hydration processes take too long, often requiring fine grinding, high shear, or organic solvents, leading to inefficiencies, dust issues, and environmental impact, while traditional methods only marginally shorten hydration times.
Innovation Solution
Forming polyacrylamide granules by combining polyacrylamide powder with water-destroyable binding agents like alkali earth halides, which disintegrate upon contact with water, allowing for rapid dispersion and dissolution without lump formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If polyacrylamide powder is ground to fine particle size (less than 300 μm) to reduce hydration time, then hydration time is reduced to less than 30 minutes, but dust issues arise and product loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates porous polyacrylamide granules by introducing a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer (disintegrant) during polymerization. The disintegrant forms a porous structure within the granules that allows rapid water penetration and quick hydration (less than 5 minutes) while maintaining a coarse particle size (500-1500 μm) that eliminates dust issues during handling and transportation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite granules by incorporating a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer (disintegrant such as carboxymethyl starch) into the polyacrylamide matrix during gel polymerization. This composite structure combines the beneficial properties of both materials: the polyacrylamide provides the desired functionality while the disintegrant creates a porous, water-soluble framework that enables rapid hydration without requiring fine grinding
2Productivity
If high shear is applied to disperse polyacrylamide powder to achieve rapid hydration, then hydration efficiency is improved, but polymer molecular weight decreases due to mechanical action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by incorporating the disintegrant during the gel polymerization process itself, creating a pre-formed porous structure within the granules. This eliminates the need for subsequent high shear dispersion steps, as the granules naturally disintegrate rapidly upon contact with water, preserving the polymer's high molecular weight and associated performance
3Stability of the object's composition
If organic solvent is used to suspend or disperse polyacrylamide powder before hydration to avoid agglomeration, then hydration uniformity is improved, but cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service by designing granules that automatically disintegrate and hydrate uniformly upon contact with water, without requiring external aids such as organic solvents, surfactants, or specialized equipment. The cross-linked hydrophilic polymer framework spontaneously absorbs water and breaks down the granule structure, achieving uniform hydration directly in the application water
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for organic solvents and other harmful additives from the hydration process. By incorporating a water-soluble disintegrant during polymerization, the system achieves complete dispersion and uniform hydration using only water, removing all organic solvent-related costs and environmental concerns
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves hydration times of less than 15 minutes, eliminating the need for high shear and organic solvents, reducing dust, and enhancing process efficiency and sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
combining the polyacrylamide powder and the binding agent to form polyacrylamide granules
Implementation Method 2
water-destroyable binding agent... which disintegrate upon contact with water
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are compositions and methods for the instant hydration of polyacrylamide granules of particle size greater than 500 μm comprising the same polyacrylamide powder of particle size less than 500 μm; and a binding agent or agents. More particularly, the polyacrylamide powder is combined with a water-destroyable binding agent forming polyacrylamide granules, which instantly hydrates when added to water.