Water-absorbing polymer particle re-moistening to prevent agglomeration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of water-absorbing polymer particles often results in a high tendency to agglomerate during rewetting, which affects dosing accuracy and product performance, particularly in applications like diaper production.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the re-moistening of water-absorbing polymer particles in a continuous horizontal mixer with moving tools, where the particles are initially heated to at least 90°C and cooled to less than 80°C, using a Froude number of at least 0.05, and employing specific mixer designs and cooling techniques to minimize agglomeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water-absorbing polymer particles are re-moistened after thermal surface crosslinking, then the moisture content increases and static charge is reduced, but the particles tend to agglomerate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the temperature of the polymer particles during re-moistening. Specifically, particles are heated to at least 90°C before re-moistening, which changes their physical state and reduces agglomeration tendency while maintaining the benefits of increased moisture content and reduced static charge for improved dosing accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by heating the polymer particles to at least 90°C before performing re-moistening. This preliminary thermal treatment prepares the particles by reducing their agglomeration tendency, ensuring that when water is added, the particles remain dispersed rather than forming aggregates, thus maintaining dosing accuracy
2Quantity of substance
If the amount of crosslinker is increased, then the centrifuge retention capacity decreases and absorption reaches maximum, but the particles become more prone to agglomeration during rewetting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by heating the particles to at least 90°C before re-moistening. This temperature parameter change reduces the agglomeration tendency of particles with high crosslinker content, allowing them to maintain their absorption capacity without forming aggregates during the rewetting process
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
This process reduces the tendency of water-absorbing polymer particles to agglomerate, improving their mechanical stability and reducing static charge, thereby enhancing dosing accuracy and product performance.
Implementation Method 1
the water-absorbing polymer particles in the horizontal mixer having an initial temperature of at least 90° C and the re-moistened water-absorbing polymer particles are cooled in the horizontal mixer to a temperature of less than 80 ° C
Implementation Method 2
the re-moistening is carried out in a continuous horizontal mixer with moving mixing tools, the Froude number being at least 0.05
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing water-absorbing polymer particles. Heated water-absorbing polymer particles are remoistened and cooled in a high-speed mixer.