Super Absorbent Polymer Surface Chemistry for Fast Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing super absorbent polymers used in pulpless hygiene products face challenges in maintaining high absorption performance and quick absorption rates without degrading physical properties due to the use of foaming agents, leading to increased fine powder generation and reduced surface tension.
Innovation Solution
A polyacrylic acid-based super absorbent polymer is developed with controlled carbon and oxygen content in C═O and O—C═O bond structures on its surface, achieved through specific surface cross-linking and polymerization processes, ensuring optimal carbon content ranging from 2.5 to 15 at%.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a foaming agent is included in monomer composition to form porous structure and widen surface area, then absorption performance is improved, but physical properties such as surface tension, permeability, and volume density are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the foaming agent from the monomer composition, extracting the harmful element that causes degradation of physical properties. The porous structure is formed through alternative means (controlled polymerization and drying processes) without requiring foaming agents, thus eliminating the negative impact on surface tension, permeability, and volume density while maintaining absorption performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the polymerization parameters and drying conditions to achieve porous structure formation without foaming agents. By controlling polymerization rate, monomer composition ratios, and drying temperature/humidity parameters, the invention creates a porous structure that enhances surface area and absorption capacity while preserving other physical properties.
2Productivity
If foaming agent is used to increase surface area of super absorbent polymer, then absorption rate is improved, but fine powder generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the foaming agent that causes excessive fine powder generation. The porous structure is formed through controlled polymerization and drying processes that do not produce fine powder, thereby maintaining high absorption rate while minimizing substance loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of fine powder generation into a benefit by using controlled polymerization and drying to create a porous structure. This approach maintains the absorption rate enhancement while preventing the harmful side effect of fine powder generation, effectively turning a potential defect into a controlled feature.
3Quantity of substance
If super absorbent polymer is used in high proportion in pulpless hygiene products, then absorption capacity is improved, but vortex time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a porous structure with enhanced surface area specifically on the polymer particles. This localized structural modification allows the polymer to absorb liquid more quickly at the surface level, reducing vortex time while maintaining high absorption capacity through the increased surface area and porosity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous materials by forming a porous structure within the super absorbent polymer particles. This porous structure provides channels and increased surface area that facilitate rapid liquid penetration and absorption, thereby reducing vortex time while maintaining high absorption capacity even when used in high proportions in pulpless hygiene products.
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 polymer exhibits enhanced absorption capacity and rate, particularly in low ion concentration water, with improved physical properties and reduced fine powder generation, suitable for various applications including hygiene products and horticultural uses.
Implementation Method 1
a super absorbent polymer (SAP) is a synthetic polymer material which has the ability capable of absorbing moisture 500 times to 1,000 times its own weight
Implementation Method 2
there has been a continuous demand for the development of a technology capable of improving absorption properties of a super absorbent polymer without the use of a foaming agent
Data Source
AI summary
A polyacrylic acid (salt)-based super absorbent polymer, includes carbon, oxygen, and sodium on the surface thereof, wherein XO—C═O is 2.5 at % or greater and, XO—C═O represents a content (at %) of carbon included in a O—C═O bond structure among all elements present on the surface of the super absorbent polymer according to XPS analysis.