Super Absorbent Polymer Core-Shell Structure for Stickiness and Permeability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing super absorbent polymers face challenges in achieving high centrifuge retention capacity and permeability simultaneously due to high water-soluble component content, which leads to surface stickiness and decreased permeability when in contact with liquids.
Innovation Solution
A super absorbent polymer with a weight average molecular weight of 180,000 to 250,000 g/mol and a water-soluble component content of 5 to 12 wt%, achieved through controlled polymerization initiator content, polymerization temperature, and surface cross-linking agent usage, to balance centrifuge retention capacity and permeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the water-soluble component content is increased to improve solution absorption capacity, then the absorbency is improved, but the super absorbent polymer becomes easily eluted causing surface stickiness and decreased permeability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a core-shell structure where the core contains water-soluble polymer chains for absorption and the shell contains cross-linked polymer chains for structural integrity. This spatial differentiation allows the water-soluble component to provide absorbency while the cross-linked shell prevents elution and surface stickiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining water-soluble polymer chains (providing absorption capacity) with cross-linked polymer chains (providing structural stability). This composite structure enables the super absorbent polymer to simultaneously achieve high absorbency and resistance to elution.
2Quantity of substance
If the water-soluble component content is increased to improve solution absorption capacity, then the centrifuge retention capacity is improved, but the permeability is decreased due to surface stickiness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates local quality differentiation with a core region containing water-soluble chains for high centrifuge retention capacity and a shell region with cross-linked chains that maintain permeability by preventing surface stickiness and enabling rapid solution delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines water-soluble polymer segments (enhancing centrifuge retention capacity) with cross-linked polymer segments (maintaining permeability), allowing simultaneous achievement of both properties.
3Quantity of substance
If the super absorbent polymer is made with high water-soluble component content to enhance absorbency, then the solution absorption capacity is improved, but the polymer is easily eluted when contacting liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by concentrating water-soluble chains in the core for absorption functionality while placing cross-linked chains in the shell for reliability and resistance to elution during liquid contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite material structure integrates water-soluble polymer components (providing absorbency) with cross-linked polymer components (providing reliability and elution resistance), enabling both high absorbency and stable performance.
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 results in a super absorbent polymer with enhanced centrifuge retention capacity and permeability, reducing surface stickiness and improving physical properties, particularly relevant for slim-thickness diaper applications.
Implementation Method 1
preparing a hydrogel polymer by polymerizing the monomer composition
Implementation Method 2
performing surface cross-linking on the pulverized polymer to which the surface cross-linking agent is added
Implementation Method 3
a super absorbent polymer comprising a weight average molecular weight of 180,000 to 250,000 g/mol and a content of a water-soluble component
Implementation Method 4
capable of absorbing water five hundred up to one thousand times the mass of its own
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a super absorbent polymer and a preparation method thereof, the super absorbent polymer including: a surface cross-linked polymer prepared by surface cross-linking a base resin, the base resin polymerizing from a monomer composition including water-soluble ethylene-based unsaturated monomers having at least partially neutralized acidic groups; and a water-soluble component, wherein the water-soluble component has a weight average molecular weight of 150,000 to 300,000 g/mol. The super absorbent polymer may have high centrifuge retention capacity and excellent permeability at the same time, while having low content of the water-soluble component.