Superabsorbent Polymer Properties that Determine Water Blocking Capability in Communication Cables

摘要

Modern superabsorbent polymers (SAP) were examined as water blocking materials. Beyond the traditional parameters of swell speed and swell height, a number of other important parameters were found to have importance in the water blocking performance of SAP: These include gel modulus and gel stability of hydrated SAP. Gel Modulus was examined as a potential indicator of blocking performance of a SAP in a cable composite. Penetration tests were performed on SAPs having different gel moduli. These polymers were produced by several different SAP manufacturers. A direct correlation was found between the gel modulus of a SAP and its ability to prevent penetration. Specifically, a SAP with a lower gel modulus allowed less penetration than SAP with a higher modulus. Lower gel modulus allows the SAP particles to, form an impenetrable barrier by eliminating interstitial channels that allow liquid penetration. The study concluded that a low gel modulus material at 100% saturation had the best resistance to liquid penetration.