Super Absorbent Polymer Drying with Carboxylic Acid Additives

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing super absorbent polymers face issues with agglomeration during drying, leading to reduced drying efficiency and non-uniform particle size distribution, which affects absorption performance and moisture retention.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a carboxylic acid-based additive and hydrophobic particles during the preparation process to prevent agglomeration and improve drying efficiency, resulting in a super absorbent polymer with uniform particle size distribution and enhanced absorption performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hydrogel polymer is dried using hot air or drum-type dryer, then drying process can be completed, but agglomeration between polymer particles occurs and drying efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidagglomeration between polymer particles

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A carboxylic acid-based additive is introduced as an intermediary substance during the drying process. This additive acts as a mediator between hydrogel polymer particles, preventing direct adhesion and agglomeration while allowing the drying process to proceed efficiently. The additive modifies the surface properties and interaction forces between particles, enabling uniform drying without particle clustering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If hydrogel polymer is pulverized and dried, then polymer particles with desired particle diameter can be obtained, but particle size distribution becomes non-uniform due to agglomeration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle size distribution uniformityVSAvoidagglomeration between polymer particles

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The carboxylic acid-based additive serves as a mediator during pulverization and drying, ensuring uniform particle size distribution. By preventing agglomeration between polymer particles, the additive allows mechanical pulverization to produce consistent, uniform particles rather than clustered aggregates of varying sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The addition of the carboxylic acid-based additive changes the physical and chemical parameters of the hydrogel polymer system during processing. This modification affects particle surface properties, adhesion forces, and drying kinetics, resulting in uniform particle size distribution and preventing the formation of non-uniform aggregates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Length of moving object

If pulp content is reduced or eliminated in hygienic materials, then thinner thickness can be achieved, but super absorbent polymer particles are contained in multiple layers requiring high absorption performance and fast absorption rate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness of hygienic materialVSAvoidabsorption performance and absorption rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The carboxylic acid-based additive acts as a mediator that enhances the performance characteristics of super absorbent polymer particles used in pulpless hygienic materials. By preventing agglomeration and ensuring uniform particle distribution, the additive enables the polymer to achieve high absorption performance and fast absorption rates despite the reduced pulp content and thinner material structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution effectively prevents re-agglomeration during drying, leading to a super absorbent polymer with improved drying efficiency, uniform particle size distribution, and enhanced absorption capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

a phenomenon in which the hydrogel polymers pulverized during drying adhere to each other occurs, so ventilation of hot air for drying may be deteriorated, thereby lowering drying efficiency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAgglomeration prevention:

Implementation Method 2

In order to solve the above problems, there is provided a super absorbent polymer including super absorbent polymer particles containing a cross-linked polymer of a water-soluble ethylene-based unsaturated monomer having at least partially neutralized acidic groups and a cross-linking agent; hydrophobic particles; and a carboxylic acid-based additive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 3

A super absorbent polymer (SAP) is a type of synthetic polymeric material capable of absorbing 500 to 1000 times its own weight of moisture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12434220B2Super absorbent polymer and preparation method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 LG CHEM LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a super absorbent polymer, and a preparation method thereof. More specifically, it relates to a super absorbent polymer prepared such that agglomeration between pulverized particles is suppressed, and drying efficiency and uniformity of particle size distribution are improved by including a carboxylic acid-based additive having a specific structure and hydrophobic particles before drying the hydrogel polymer, and a preparation method thereof.