Preparation of konjac glucomannan-based superabsorbent polymers by frontal polymerization

摘要

Frontal polymerization was used to prepare two kinds of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) called konjac glucomannan-acrylic acid-acrylamide (KGM-AA-AM) polymers and konjac glucomannan-acrylic acid-kaolin (KGM-AA-Kaolin) polymers. As preparation of KGM-AA-AM, it was found that features of front propagation including front velocity and maximum temperature (T_(max)) were dependent on the amount of acrylamide, initiator (potassium persulfate) and water, which influenced characterization of final products in the former. However, in the other polymer system, when Kaolin/AA ratio reached 0.30, the highest water absorbency was obtained, 1941 g/g in distilled water and 93 g/g in physiological saline. That indicates kaolin is a potential material to enhance water absorbency of FP products.