A CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF AN ABSORBENT FOAM MATERIAL MADE FROM A POLYMERIZED HIGH INTERNAL PHASE EMULSION

摘要

Disclosed is a process for the continuous preparation of high internal phase emulsions and subsequent polymerization into polymeric foam materials that, upon dewatering, act as absorbents for aqueous body fluids, the process involves continuous introduction of a certain type of monomer-continuous introduction of a certain type of monomer-containing water phase into a dynamic mixing zone at relatively low water to oil phase ratios. Flow rates are then steadily adjusted to increase the water to oil ratio of the streams fed to the dynamic mixing zone contents to shear agitation which is sufficient to thereby form a high internal phase emulsion that, upon subsequent polymerization, provides a foam having an average cell size of from about 5 to 100 microns. The formation of such a stable high internal phase emulsion is completed by feeding the contents of the dynamic mixing zone to and through a static mixing zone. This is followed by polymerisation to obtain the polymeric foam material.