Water-absorbing agent saline flow conductivity CRC trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is an antithetic relation between Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) and Saline Flow Conductivity (SFC) in water-absorbent resins, where increasing SFC leads to a decrease in CRC, making it challenging to develop a resin that meets the requirements of fiber materials in sanitary products, particularly in thinner diaper designs.
Innovation Solution
A water-absorbing agent comprising water-absorbent resin particles obtained by polymerizing an acid group-containing unsaturated monomer, including a compound with a constitutional unit derived from polyalkyleneglycol and a polyvalent metal salt, with surface-crosslinking to enhance Saline Flow Conductivity while maintaining a suitable Centrifuge Retention Capacity within the range of 5 to 20 g/g.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If water-absorbent resin with high Saline Flow Conductivity (SFC) is developed to enable swift diffusion of aqueous solution, then liquid permeability is improved, but Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) decreases below the desired range
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the water-absorbent resin by incorporating specific compounds (polyethylene glycol with 400 molecular weight, triethylene glycol, and zinc chloride) to achieve the desired balance between SFC and CRC. This compositional modification allows the resin to maintain high liquid permeability while preserving adequate aqueous solution retention capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite water-absorbent resin system by combining multiple components: carboxyl group-containing unsaturated monomer polymer, polyethylene glycol (400 molecular weight), triethylene glycol, and zinc chloride. This composite structure enables the material to simultaneously achieve high SFC for rapid liquid diffusion and sufficient CRC for aqueous solution retention, resolving the technical contradiction between these two properties.
2Volume of moving object
If fiber materials are replaced with water-absorbent resin to increase resin amount in absorbent cores, then sanitary materials can be made thinner, but the ability to temporarily retain and diffuse aqueous solution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the functional parameters of water-absorbent resin by adding specific compounds to enhance its ability to temporarily retain and diffuse aqueous solutions. This allows the resin to compensate for the loss of fiber material functions, enabling thinner sanitary material design while maintaining adequate liquid management performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes water-absorbent resin perform multiple functions previously requiring separate fiber materials: high-capacity absorption, temporary retention, and lateral/diffusion transport of aqueous solutions. The composite resin system with polyethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and zinc chloride achieves this multi-functionality, allowing complete replacement of fiber materials while maintaining or improving overall 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 achieves a balanced improvement in both CRC and SFC, enabling excellent liquid permeability and diffusion of aqueous solutions, suitable for replacing fiber materials in sanitary products to create thinner designs without compromising absorption capacity.
Implementation Method 1
Water-absorbent resin exhibits high absorption rate, a large absorption amount, and a high retaining property with respect to an aqueous solution
Implementation Method 2
the water-absorbent resin has been conventionally used for absorbent cores of sanitary materials such as diapers
Implementation Method 3
water-absorbent resin particles obtained by polymerizing an acid group-containing unsaturated monomer
Implementation Method 4
an ability of temporarily retaining an aqueous solution after absorbing the aqueous solution
Implementation Method 5
an ability of causing the aqueous solution to permeate in swollen gels under pressure
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a water-absorbing agent that includes water-absorbent resin particles as essential components and is suitable for a sanitary material. A water-absorbing agent of the present invention includes water-absorbent resin particles obtained by polymerizing an unsaturated monomer having an acid group. The water-absorbing agent has centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) of 5 to 20 g/g and includes: a compound with a structure unit derived from polyalkyleneglycol other than the unsaturated monomer; and a multivalent metal salt, and accordingly the water-absorbing agent has high saline flow conductivity (SFC) in a range of the above centrifuge retention capacity (CRC).