IMPROVING THE WATER ABSORPTION CAPACITY OF CROSSLINKED, WATER-SWELLABLE POLYMERS BY STEAM TREATMENT OF FINELY DIVIDED POLYMER GEL

摘要

Process for improving the water absorption capacity of crosslinked, water-swellable polymers by treating water-containing, finely divided polymer gels having a solids content of 20 to 65% by weight at temperatures of at least 50 DEG C with steam, the solids content of the water-containing polymer gels being increased by not more than 30% by weight and the polymer gels then being dried in a conventional manner.