Fabrication of a fast-swelling superabsorbent resin by inverse suspension polymerization

摘要

A novel, fast-swelling superabsorbent polymer (SAP2) was fabricated with an anionic-nonionic surfactant [poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)-(3-carboxy-1-oxo-3-sulfopropyl)-(nonylphenoxy) sodium salt] as the stabilizer by inverse suspension polymerization. The microstructure, chemical structure, and gel strength of the superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, porosity, and specific surface area analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and rheometry. The results show that SAP2 had irregularly shaped particles with a large number of pores and presented a greater specific surface area, pore volume, and gel strength than the prepared SAP1 with a nonionic surfactant (Span 60) as the stabilizer. The amount of residual monomer and the gel fraction of SAP2 were 202mg/kg and 80.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, SAP2 demonstrated a faster swelling and deswelling rate as well as greater water absorbency than SAP1. The fast swelling rate mainly resulted from the capillary effect of the pores in the irregularly shaped particles. Superfast swelling SAPs should possess outstanding potential for healthcare products, communication cables, and the biomedical field. (c) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46142.