Modified acrylic-based superabsorbent polymers. Effect of temperature and initiator concentration

A solution polymerization process was used industrially to produce superabsorbent polymers based on acrylic monomers. Using a simple, small scale laboratory version of the polymerization part of this process which permits contact with air and evaporative losses, the effects of varying the heat input...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymer (Guilford) 1998-07, Vol.39 (15), p.3459-3466
Main Authors: Omidian, H., Hashemi, S.A., Sammes, P.G., Meldrum, I.G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Exact sciences and technology
initiator concentration
Organic polymers
Physicochemistry of polymers
Polymers with particular properties
Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts
superabsorbents
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Summary:A solution polymerization process was used industrially to produce superabsorbent polymers based on acrylic monomers. Using a simple, small scale laboratory version of the polymerization part of this process which permits contact with air and evaporative losses, the effects of varying the heat input and the initiator concentration were explored. The presence of oxygen resulted in an inhibition period which lengthened the time for completing polymerization and consequently increased evaporative losses of water. The absorbency of the reaction products was highest under conditions which gave short reaction times. Long reaction times resulted in long inhibition periods, runaway polymerization and low absorbency. These effects were accounted for in terms of oxygen participation in the polymerization and extensive losses of water as the solvent.
ISSN:0032-3861
1873-2291
DOI:10.1016/S0032-3861(97)10236-1