Water-absorbing resin with low volatile components
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development of thinner hygienic materials has led to increased amounts of surface-crosslinked water-absorbing resin and reduced amounts of pulp, resulting in higher odor production during swelling, which is more easily perceived by users.
Innovation Solution
A surface-crosslinked water-absorbing resin with a volatile component concentration of 3.5 ppm or less, achieved by controlling the moisture content and using a method involving the addition of a water-based liquid and subsequent drying, or by using a supercritical solvent to remove volatile components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the amount of surface-crosslinked water-absorbing resin is increased to achieve thinner hygienic materials, then the thickness and weight of the material are reduced, but odor production during swelling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the volatile component concentration within a specific range (3.5 ppm or less) through optimized polymerization conditions, monomer ratios, and crosslinking parameters. This resolves the contradiction by adjusting process parameters to reduce odor while maintaining the high water-absorbing resin content needed for thin material design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating a surface-crosslinked structure where the outer layer has different properties (crosslinked network) than the interior. This surface modification reduces volatile component release while maintaining overall water absorption performance, allowing thin design without increased odor.
2Length of moving object
If the amount of pulp is reduced to achieve thinner hygienic materials, then the thickness and weight are reduced, but odor perception increases due to reduced odor adsorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of volatile component concentration control to 3.5 ppm or less through optimized polymerization and crosslinking processes. This reduces the odor source strength itself, compensating for the reduced pulp content that would otherwise provide odor adsorption capacity in thinner materials.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional methods are used to reduce odor (controlling volatile alcohol or ethylene glycol content), then odor is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by controlling volatile component concentration during the polymerization and crosslinking stages itself, rather than requiring post-processing steps. The odor reduction is built into the manufacturing process through monomer selection, polymerization conditions, and crosslinking parameters, avoiding additional manufacturing complexity.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If sulfite or persulfate is added to react with residual monomer, then residual monomer amount is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and chemical usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by optimizing the polymerization process itself to achieve high conversion rates and minimize residual monomer formation from the outset. This eliminates the need for subsequent chemical treatment steps with sulfite or persulfate, reducing manufacturing complexity while still achieving low residual monomer levels.
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 approach effectively reduces the odor produced during swelling of the water-absorbing resin while maintaining its water absorption performance, thereby enhancing user comfort and reducing odor perception in hygienic materials.
Implementation Method 1
by using a supercritical solvent to remove volatile components
Implementation Method 2
a water-absorbing resin that has a reduced odor produced during swelling
Implementation Method 3
using a method involving the addition of a water-based liquid and subsequent drying
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object to provide a water-absorbing resin that while maintaining water-absorbing resin physical properties such as water absorption performance, has a sufficiently reduced odor produced during swelling. The object is attained by causing the water-absorbing resin to be a water-absorbing resin which is a surface-crosslinked water-absorbing resin, the water-absorbing resin having a volatile component concentration of 3.5 ppm or less as measured when the water-absorbing resin is caused to stand still for 15 minutes under a condition that the water-absorbing resin has a swelling capacity of 1.0-fold.