Study on superabsorbent composite. XV. Effects of ion‐exchanged attapulgite on water absorbency of superabsorbent composites

A series of superabsorbent composite, polyacrylamide/attapulgite, from acrylamide (AM) and ion‐exchanged attapulgite (APT) was prepared by aqueous polymerization, using N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator. The effects of ion‐exchanged APT on water absorbency of superabsorbent composites in distilled water and in 0.9 wt% NaCl solution were studied. The result indicates that higher cation‐exchange capacity (CEC) and lower specific surface area (SSA) of APT treated with various anions are of benefit for improving water absorbency in distilled water. The effects of AlCl₃ solution concentration and Al³⁺‐exchanged APT content on water absorbency of the composite were also investigated. The concentration of AlCl₃ solution has a great influence on water absorbency of the superabsorbent composite. Al³⁺‐exchange of APT could also enhance reswelling ability of the corresponding composite, which indicates that Al³⁺‐exchange of APT could improve gel strength and gives a direct evidence for its acting as an inorganic assistant crosslinker in the polymeric network. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:208–213, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Superabsorbent composite. XIII. Effects of Al3+‐attapulgite on hydrogel strength and swelling behaviors of poly(acrylic acid)/Al3+‐attapulgite superabsorbent composites

Al³⁺‐attapulgite (Al³⁺‐APT) was prepared by treating attapulgite (APT) with AlCl₃ aqueous solution of various concentrations. The poly(acrylic acid)/Al³⁺‐attapulgite (PAA/Al³⁺‐APT) superabsorbent composite was prepared by reaction of partly neutralized acrylic acid, and Al³⁺‐APT in aqueous solution using N, N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator. The surface morphology of the composite was investigated by SEM, and the Al³⁺‐APT composite generated a relatively planar surface comparing the nature APT. The effects of Al³⁺‐APT on hydrogel strength and swelling behaviors, such as equilibrium water absorbency, swelling rate, and reswelling capability, of the superabsorbent composites were also studied. The hydrogel strength and reswelling capability were improved, however, the equilibrium water absorbency and swelling rate decreased with increasing AlCl₃ solution concentration. The equilibrium water absorbency firstly increased, and then decreased with increasing Al³⁺‐APT content. The results indicate that Al³⁺‐APT acts as an assistant crosslinker in the polymeric network, which has great influences on hydrogel strength and swelling behaviors of the PAA/Al³⁺‐APT superabsorbent composites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:619–624, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Study on superabsorbent composites. XVIII. Preparation,characterization, and property evaluation of poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide)/organomontmorillonite/sodium humate superabsorbent composites

A series of novel multifunctional poly (acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide) (PAA‐AM)/organomontmorillonite (O‐MMT)/sodium humate (SH) superabsorbent composites were synthesized by the graft copolymerization reaction of partially neutralized acrylic acid and acrylamide on O‐MMT micropowder and SH with N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator in an aqueous solution. The superabsorbent composites were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The effect of the relative weight ratio of SH to O‐MMT on the water absorbency was studied, and the results indicated that the best water absorbency of 591 g/g in distilled water was obtained when an O‐MMT content of 20 wt % and an SH content of 30 wt % were incorporated. The superabsorbent composite possessed a good capacity for water retention; even after 30 days, 24.4 wt % of water could still be saved by the sand soil containing 1.0 wt % superabsorbent composite. The results from this study show that the water absorbency of a superabsorbent composite is improved by the simultaneous introduction of O‐MMT and SH into a PAA‐AM network in comparison with the incorporation of only O‐MMT or SH. Also, in comparison with PAA‐AM/MMT/SH, an appropriate amount of O‐MMT can benefit the developed composites with respect to their water absorbency, salt resistance, and capacity for water retention in sand soil. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Study on superabsorbent composites. IX: Synthesis,characterization and swelling behaviors of polyacrylamide/clay composites based on various clays

A series of clay-based superabsorbent composite from acrylamide (AM) and various clays, such as attapulgite, kaolinite, mica, vermiculate and Na⁺-montmorillonite, was prepared by free-radical aqueous polymerization, using N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator, and then saponified with sodium hydroxide solution. In this paper, the reaction mechanism and thermal stability of the superabsorbent composites incorporated with various clays were characterized by FTIR, XRD and TGA, respectively. The effects of clay kind and clay content on equilibrium water absorbency of these composites were also investigated and compared. In addition, the influences of clay kind on comprehensive swelling behaviors of the PAM/clay superabsorbent composites were studied. The results indicated that the introduced clays could influence physicochemical properties of obtained superabsorbent composites. Mica could improve thermal stability of corresponding superabsorbent composites to the highest degree comparing with the other clays. The PAM/clay superabsorbent composites incorporated with 10 wt% clay of various kinds were all endowed with equilibrium water absorbency of more than 1300 g g⁻¹. The equilibrium water absorbency decreases with increasing clay content and correlates with the kind of clay. Attapulgite-based superabsorbent composite was endowed with higher water absorbency in univalent cationic saline solution, however, the vermiculite- and the kaolinite-based ones acquired the highest water absorbency in CaCl₂ and FeCl₃ aqueous solution, respectively. Moreover, the superabsorbent composites incorporated with Na⁺-montmorillonite have higher swelling rate and that of doped with mica was endowed with higher reswelling capability.     

Synthesis,characterization and swelling behaviors of hydroxyethyl cellulose‐g‐poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite superabsorbent composite

In this work, a series of novel hydroxyethyl cellulose‐ g‐poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite (HEC‐g‐PAA/APT) superabsorbent composites were prepared through the graft polymerization of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), partially neutralized acrylic acid (AA), and attapulgite (APT) in aqueous solution, and the composites were characterized by means of Fourier‐transform spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electronmicroscopy. The effects of polymerization variables including concentrations of the initiator and crosslinker and APT content on water absorbency were studied, and the swelling properties in various pH solutions as well as the swelling kinetics in various saline solutions were also systematically evaluated. Results showed that the introduction of 5 wt% APT into HEC‐g‐PAA polymeric network could improve both water absorbency and water absorption rate of the superabsorbent composites. In addition, the superabsorbent composites retained high water absorbency over a wide pH range of 4–10, and the swelling kinetics of the superabsorbent composites in CaCl₂ and FeCl₃ solutions exhibited a remarkable overshooting phenomenon. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Synthesis and characterization of hydroxyl poly(aspartic acid)/organic bentonite superabsorbent composite

A novel hydroxyl poly(aspartic acid)/organic bentonite (HPAsp/OB) superabsorbent composite has been synthesized by the non-water suspension method using polysuccinimide and OB as raw materials,ethanolamine as modifiers and hexamethylenediamine as cross-linking agent. Organic bentonite used in this work is cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide intercalated bentonite with the interlayer distance of 2.12 nm. The effects of the OB and ethanolamine contents on swelling ratios of the superabsorbent composites have been investigated. The largest swelling ratios in distilled water and in 0.9 wt% NaCl were 491 and 82 g/g, respectively, both at OB and ethanolamine contents of 3 wt% and 15 mol%, correspondingly. The salt resistance of the superabsorbent composites was investigated in KCl (aq.), CaCl₂ (aq.) and FeCl₃ (aq.). The temperature- and pH-sensitivities of the superabsorbent composites has also been studied. The structures and morphologies of the superabsorbent composites have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, high resolution-TEM and optical microscopy techniques. The results indicated that introduction of OB and ethanolamine increased the swelling ratio of the superabsorbent composites. Compared with poly(aspartic acid), hydroxyl poly(aspartic acid) and poly(aspartic acid)/organic bentonite, the swelling properties of HPAsp/OB superabsorbent composites are obviously improved under the same experimental conditions.     

Synthesis and characterization of superabsorbent composite by using glow discharge electrolysis plasma

A convenient and effective technique for polymerization to produce the poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide)/montmorillonite superabsorbent composite in aqueous solution was developed, in which the reaction was initiated by the glow discharge electrolysis (GDE) plasma rather than chemical initiators. The resulted superabsorbent has higher water absorbency, for example, 1024 g g⁻¹ for distilled water and 56 g g⁻¹ for 0.9% NaCl solution. To optimize the synthesis conditions, the following parameters were examined in detail: the discharge voltage, discharge time, ratio of acrylic acid to acrylamide, neutralization of acrylic acid, amount of crosslinking agent and montmorillonite added. The superabsorbent composite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Results indicated that montmorillonite was effectively bonded with polymer. Moreover, the water absorbency, water retention and thermal stability of the superabsorbent composite prepared by GDE were higher than those of the superabsorbent composite by conventional chemical method under the same polymerization conditions.     

Preparation and slow‐release property of a poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite/sodium humate superabsorbent composite

A novel poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite (APT)/sodium humate (SH) superabsorbent composite was synthesized through the graft copolymerization reaction of acrylic acid on APT micropowder and SH with N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator in an aqueous solution. Various effects on the water absorbency, including the amounts of the crosslinker, initiator, APT, and SH, were investigated. The superabsorbent composite was characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The superabsorbent composite synthesized under optimal synthesis conditions with an APT concentration of 20% and an SH concentration of 20% exhibited absorption of 583 g of H₂O/g of sample and 63 g of H₂O/g of sample in distilled water and in a 0.9 wt % NaCl solution, respectively. The slow‐release property of SH from the superabsorbent composite into water was measured, and a test of the water retention of the superabsorbent composite in soil was also carried out experimentally with and without the superabsorbent composite. The results showed that the superabsorbent composite had not only good water retention but also an additional slow‐release property of SH. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 37–45, 2007     

瓜尔胶基高吸水性树脂的制备、溶胀行为与保水性能

以天然瓜尔胶（GG）和丙烯酸（AA）为原料,过硫酸铵（APS）为引发剂,N,N′-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺（MBA）为交联剂,采用水溶液聚合法制备了瓜尔胶接枝聚丙烯酸（GG-g-PAA）高吸水性树脂。考察了MBA浓度对树脂溶胀动力学和溶胀能力的影响,研究了树脂在不同亲水有机溶剂/水混合溶液、不同阳离子盐（NaCl、CaCl₂和FeCl₃）和阴离子盐（KNO₃、K₂SO₄和K₃PO₄）溶液中在各浓度和离子强度下的溶胀行为,测定了高吸水性树脂在室温和高温下的保水性能。结果表明,该树脂对亲水有机溶剂较为敏感,吸水倍率随着亲水有机溶剂浓度的增加迅速减小;在各种盐溶液中的吸水倍率随着离子强度的增加而下降。     

Influence of potassium humate on the swelling properties of a poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide)/ potassium humate superabsorbent composite

A novel superabsorbent composite, poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide)/potassium humate (PAA‐AM/KHA), was prepared by aqueous solution polymerization from acrylic acid, acrylamide, and potassium humate (KHA) with N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker and potassium peroxydisulfate as an initiator. The effects of incorporated KHA on the water absorbency, swelling rate, and reswelling capability were investigated. The swelling property of PAA‐AM/KHA in various saline solutions was studied systematically. The results show that the comprehensive properties and especially salt‐resistant ability of PAA‐AM/KHA were enhanced. There was a linear relationship between the saturated water absorbency and the minus square root of the ionic strength of the external medium, and the water absorbency of PAA‐AM/KHA in various salt solutions had the following order: NH₄Cl_(aq) = KCl_(aq) = NaCl_(aq) > MgCl_2(aq) > CaCl_2(aq) > AlCl_3(aq) > FeCl_3(aq). Moreover, the polymeric net structure of PAA‐AM/KHA was examined with respect to that of poly(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamide). The results indicate that the polymeric net of PAA‐AM/KHA was improved by the introduction of a moderate amount of KHA into the superabsorbent composite and made more suitable for agriculture and horticulture applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

Waste polystyrene foam‐graft‐acrylic acid/montmorillonite superabsorbent nanocomposite

A novel superabsorbent nanocomposite based on partially neutralized acrylic acid, waste polystyrene foam, and sodium type montmorillonite (Na‐MMT) powder was synthesized through emulsion polymerization using N, N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker, 2,2′‐azo‐bisiso‐butyronitrile, ammonium persulfate, and sodium sulfite as mixed redox initiators. The effects of such factors as amount of Na‐MMT, crosslinker, initiator, and neutralization degree on water absorbency of the superabsorbent were investigated. The composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscope, X‐ray diffraction, thermo gravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscope. The results show that acrylic acid monomer successfully grafted onto the polystyrene chain, the layers of Na‐MMT were exfoliated and dispersed in the composite at nano size after copolymerization. The introduction of waste polystyrene foam in the composite increased the water absorbency rate. The addition of Na‐MMT not only enhanced the thermal stability of the composites but also increased its water absorbency, and the optimal water absorbencies of distilled water and saline water (w_NaCl = 0.9%) of the nanocomposites were more than 1180 g H₂O/g and 72.6 g H₂O/g, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2341–2349, 2007     

Study on superabsorbent composite. VIII. Effects of acid‐ and heat‐activated attapulgite on water absorbency of polyacrylamide/attapulgite

A novel superabsorbent composite, polyacrylamide/attapulgite, from acrylamide (AM) and attapulgite (APT), was prepared by free‐radical polymerization, using N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator. The effects of hydrochloric acid (HCl) concentration, acidification time, and acidification temperature while acidifying APT and temperature and APT heat‐activation on water absorbency of the superabsorbent composite in distilled water and in 0.9 wt % NaCl solution were studied. The water absorbency first decreases with increasing the HCl concentration while acidifying APT, and then increases with further increasing the HCl concentration. Prolongation of acidification time is of benefit to the increase of water absorbency. At a given HCl concentration, water absorbency for the composite increases with increasing acidification temperature. An important increase in water absorbency was observed after incorporating heat‐activated APT into the polymeric network, reaching a maximum of 1964 g g^?1 with the APT heat‐activated at 400°C. Acid‐ and heat‐activation can influence chemical composition, crystalline structure, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and specific surface area of APT according XRF, XRD, FTIR analysis, and physicochemical properties test, and then on water absorbency of corresponding PAM/APT superabsorbent composite. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2419–2424, 2007     

Superabsorbent composite XXII: Effects of modified sepiolite on water absorbency and swelling behavior of chitosan‐g‐poly(acrylic acid)/sepiolite superabsorbent composite

In this work, a series of chitosan‐g‐poly(acrylic acid)/sepiolite (CTS‐g‐PAA/ST) superabsorbent composites containing raw sepiolite, acid‐activated sepiolite, and cation‐exchanged sepiolite were synthesized by free‐radical graft polymerization in aqueous solution, using N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator. The effects of raw sepiolite, acid‐activated sepiolite, and cation‐exchanged sepoilite on equilibrium water absorbency, swelling rate, and swelling behavior in different pH value solution of superabsorbent composites were systematically investigated. The results from FTIR spectra showed that chitosan and sepiolite participated in graft polymerization reaction with acrylic acid. The introduction of acid‐activated and cation‐exchanged sepiolite into chitosan‐g‐poly(acrylic acid) polymeric network could improve water absorbency and swelling rate compared with that of the raw sepiolite. All prepared samples have similar swelling behavior in different pH solutions and the equilibrium water absorbencies of samples keep roughly constant in the pH range from 4 to 12. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Utilization of starch and montmorrilonite for the preparation of superabsorbent nanocomposite

Starch and montmorrilonite (MMT) were used as raw materials for synthesizing starch‐graft‐poly[acrylamide (AM)–acrylic acid (AA)]/MMT superabsorbent nanocomposite by graft and intercalation copolymerization reaction of starch, AM, and AA in the presence of organic MMT micropowder in aqueous solution. Major factors affecting water absorbency such as weight ratio of monomers to starch, weight ratio of AM to AA, neutralization degree of AA, amount of crosslinker, initiator, and MMT were investigated. The superabsorbent nanocomposite synthesized under optimal synthesis conditions exhibits absorption of 1120 g H₂O/g sample and 128 g H₂O/g sample in deionized water and in 0.9 wt % NaCl solution, respectively. IR spectra showed that the graft copolymerization between  OH groups on MMT and monomers took place during the reaction, and that crystal interlayer was pulled open in the superabsorbent nanocomposite. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystal interlayer of MMT was pulled open to 2.73 nm, and thus formed nanometer exfoliation composite material. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that starch‐graft‐poly (AM–AA) superabsorbent nanocomposite (8 wt % MMT) has good thermal stability. This superabsorbent nanocomposite with excellent water absorbency and water retention, being biodegradable in nature, economical and environment friendly, could be especially useful in industry, agricultural, and horticultural applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Synthesis,Characterization, and swelling behaviors of acrylic acid/carboxymethyl cellulose superabsorbent hydrogel by glow‐discharge electrolysis plasma

This article exploits a new approach for synthesis of acrylic acid/carboxymethyl cellulose (AA/CMC) superabsorbent hydrogel in aqueous solution by a simple one‐step using glow‐discharge electrolysis plasma, in which N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) was used as a crosslinking agent. The reaction parameters affecting the equilibrium swelling, that is, discharge voltage, discharge time, mass ratio of AA to CMC, content of crosslinker, and degree of neutralization, were systematically optimized to achieve a superabsorbent hydrogel with a maximum equilibrium swelling. The structure, thermal stability, and morphology of AA/CMC superabsorbent hydrogel were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The swelling kinetics in distilled water and swelling behaviors in various pH solutions and salts solutions (NaCl, KCl, MgCl₂, CaCl₂, AlCl₃, and FeCl₃) were investigated in detail. The effect of six cationic salt solutions on the equilibrium swelling had the following order K⁺ > Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Al³⁺ > Fe³⁺. In addition, the pH‐reversibility was preliminarily investigated with alternating pH between 6.5 and 2.0. The results showed that the equilibrium swelling of AA/CMC was achieved in 90 min. The hydrogel was responsive to the pH and salts, and was reversible swelling and deswelling behavior. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2310–2320, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Synthesis and characterization of functionalized acrylic‐acrylamide‐based superabsorbent gels

We have synthesized series of superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) by solution free radical polymerization of acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM) with different functional monomers (FM). Three functional monomers including zwitterionic monomer [3‐(methacryloylamino) propyl] dimethyl (3‐sulfopropyl) ammonium (MPDSA), cationic monomer (3‐acrylamidopropyl) trimethylammonium chloride (APTAC) and anionic monomer 2‐acrylamidoglycolic acid monohydrate (AGAM) were selected to provide different charged groups on the superabsorbents. The effect of reaction parameters, such as degree of neutralization, content of initiator and crosslinker on the swelling capacity were assessed. The water absorbency of the superabsorbent were characterized in the distilled water, 0.9 wt % NaCl solution and the mixed solution containing 60 mg L^?1 CaCl₂ and 30 mg L^?1 MgCl₂, respectively. In addition, the swelling rate and water retention capacity in the soil were also investigated. Finally, the mechanism of different absorbency induced by the variety kinds of functional monomers was studied by XPS and FTIR, and tentative interpretation was presented as well. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Utilization of waste polystyrene and starch for superabsorbent composite preparation

A superabsorbent composed of waste polystyrene, starch, and acrylic acid was prepared through emulsion polymerization. The effects of major factors such as starch, acrylic acid, initiator, crosslinker, and bentonite contents and the neutralization degree of acrylic acid on water absorbency were investigated to obtain optimum conditions with high swelling capacity. The superabsorbent hydrogel was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The FTIR results confirmed that the grafting polymerization took place among the polystyrene, acrylic acid, starch, and bentonite. The introduction of bentonite particles into the polystyrene‐g‐poly (acrylic acid)‐co‐starch system could increase the water absorbency. The superabsorbent composite containing 3 wt % bentonite had the highest water absorbency (500 g/g in distilled water and 49 g/g in 0.9 wt % NaCl solution). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Synthesis and swelling behaviors of semi‐IPNs superabsorbent resin based on chicken feather protein

A novel chicken feather protein‐g‐poly (potassium acrylate)/polyvinyl alcohol (CFP‐g‐PKA/PVA) semi‐IPNs superabsorbent resin (SAR) based on feather protein, acrylic acid (AA), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was synthesized by graft copolymerization and semi‐interpenetrating technology. The results from FTIR, SEM, and TGA analysis showed that both CFP and PVA reacted with PKA during the polymerization process. The effects of AA, PVA, initiator and crosslinker content on water absorbency of semi‐IPNs SAR were studied. The swelling behavior in various pHs and saline solutions were also investigated. The water absorbency of SAR reached the maximum at pH = 6. The effect of the five cations on swelling had the following order: Al³⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ > Na⁺. The highest water absorbency in distilled water and 0.9 wt % NaCl solutions were 714.22 and 70.08 g g^?1, respectively. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39748.     

Study on superabsorbent composite. XI. Effect of thermal treatment and acid activation of attapulgite on water absorbency of poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite superabsorbent composite

The effect of acid activation and thermal treatment of attapulgite on water absorbency of superabsorbent composite were investigated. Under the same preparation conditions, superabsorbent composite prepared with natural attapulgite exhibited a water absorbency of 639 g/g and it merely kept 71% of its initial water absorbency after 5 times of swelling–deswelling–reswelling test. However, superabsorbent composites prepared with 2–10 M hydrochloric acid acidified attapulgite and 100–400°C thermal treated attapulgite respectively exhibited the water absorbency of 884–1,241 g/g and 701–1,515 g/g. Also, those superabsorbent composites can keep 87% and 85% of their initial water absorbency after 5 times of swelling–deswelling–reswelling test, respectively. These results showed that, compared with superabsorbent composite prepared with natural attapulgite, the comprehensive water‐absorbing properties of poly(acrylic acid)/ attapulgite superabsorbent composites were improved effectively by acid activation and thermal treatment of attapulgite. This improvement of water absorbencies and gel strength of superabsorbent composite may be due to synthetical factors such as changes in the crystalline structure and the specific surface area and improvement of the number and the activity of hydroxyl groups of attapulgite, which in turn influence the grafting efficiency of monomer, crosslinking density, and the structure of superabsorbent composite network. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:397–404, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Influence of the COOH and COONa groups and crosslink density of poly(acrylic acid)/montmorillonite superabsorbent composite on water absorbency

A novel poly(acrylic acid)/montmorillonite superabsorbent composite with a water absorbency of 1100 times its own weight was synthesized by the graft copolymerization of acrylic acid with a cross‐linking agent in the presence of montmorillonite ultrafine powder. The influence of the amount of crosslinker and montmorillonite on water absorbency has been investigated. It was found that a crosslinker concentration of 0.03 wt% and 30 wt% montmorillonite gave the best results. The collaborative absorbent effect of sodium carboxylate and carboxylic acid groups was superior to that of sodium carboxylate or carboxylic acid groups alone, and the composite with a ratio of about 2/3 for sodium carboxylate to carboxyl acid groups possessed the highest water absorbence. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry