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US 12,698,356 B2Granted
Superabsorbent polymers based on copolymers of charged monomers and neutral monomers
AssigneesKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., McMaster University
InventorsXuedong Song, Kaiyuan Yang, Todd Ryan Hoare, Zohreh Jomeh Farsangi
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Abstract
Described herein are superabsorbent polymers that are made of copolymers of charged monomer and neutral monomers, where the neutral monomers are alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers that lack free hydroxyl groups and have a water solubility of at least 200 mg/mL. The copolymer-based superabsorbent polymers have significantly improved absorbency under load. The compositions and methods described herein are useful in a variety of absorbent products.
Claims16
A superabsorbent polymer comprising
- a copolymer comprising
- a major portion of charged monomers;
- a minor portion of alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers;
- and
- optionally a crosslinker;
- wherein the alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers lack free hydroxyl groups and have a water solubility of at least 200 mg/mL;
- wherein the major portion is present in an amount greater than about 50 mol % of the copolymer and the minor portion is present in an amount more than about 5 mol % and less than about 50 mol % of the copolymer;
- wherein the minor portion comprises an alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol;
- wherein the copolymer lacks structured ordering of the charged monomers and the alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers;
- wherein the charged monomers are selected from the group consisting of salts of acrylic acids, vinyl sulfonic acids, vinyl phosphoric acids, partially hydrolyzed maleic anhydrides;
- and
- wherein the alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol monomethylether monomethacrylate, methoxy ethyl acrylate, compounds according to Formula I:
- wherein n is a number in the range of 1-50 and R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl groups, and combinations thereof.
10 more elements
A method of making a superabsorbent polymer comprising
- a copolymer comprising
- a major portion of charged monomers;
- a minor portion of alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers;
- and
- optionally a crosslinker;
- wherein the alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers lack free hydroxyl groups and have a water solubility of at least 200 mg/mL, wherein the major portion is present in an amount greater than about 50 mol % of the copolymer and the minor portion is present in an amount more than 5 mol % and less than about 50 mol % of the copolymer, wherein the minor portion comprises an alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol;
- wherein the copolymer lacks structured ordering of the charged monomers and the alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers, wherein the charged monomers are selected from the group consisting of salts of acrylic acids, vinyl sulfonic acids, vinyl phosphoric acids, and partially hydrolyzed maleic anhydrides;
- and
- wherein the alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, monomethylether monomethacrylate, methoxy ethyl acrylate, compounds according to Formula I:
- wherein n is a number in the range of 1-50 and R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl groups, and combinations thereof, the method comprising
- forming a mixture comprising
- a solvent
- a charged monomer;
- an alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomer;
- and
- optionally a crosslinker
- initiating a reaction;
- and
- reacting the mixture.
16 more elements
A method of using a superabsorbent polymer comprising
- a copolymer comprising
- a major portion of charged monomers;
- a minor portion of alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers;
- and
- optionally a crosslinker;
- wherein the alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers lack free hydroxyl groups and have a water solubility of at least 200 mg/mL, wherein the major portion is present in an amount greater than about 50 mol % of the copolymer and the minor portion is present in an amount more than about 5 mol % and less than about 50 mol % of the copolymer, wherein the minor portion comprises an alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol, wherein the copolymer lacks structured ordering of the charged monomers and the alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers, wherein the charged monomers are selected from the group consisting of salts of acrylic acids, vinyl sulfonic acids, vinyl phosphoric acids, partially hydrolyzed maleic anhydrides, wherein the alkyl or aryl end-capped neutral and hydrophilic monomers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, monomethylether monomethacrylate, methoxy ethyl acrylate, compounds according to Formula I:
- wherein n is a number in the range of 1-50 and R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl groups, and combinations thereof, the method comprising using the superabsorbent polymer in a consumer product.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.