Absorbent fibers and process for their preparation
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorsRobert Niles Bashaw, Bobby Leroy Atkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Water-insoluble, water-swellable fibers adapted to bind aqueous fluids such as body exudates are prepared by spinning fibers from an organic solvent solution of a copolymer of maleic anhydride with suitable vinyl monomers. The copolymer solution also contains a small amount of a polyfunctional cross-linking agent such as a glycol or alkylene diamine which reacts to cross-link the copolymer chains when the fibers are heated and dried. The cross-linked copolymer fibers are then rendered hydrophilic and water-swellable by reaction with ammonia or an alkali metal hydroxide.
Claims19
A method for the preparation of water-insoluble, water-swellable polymer products which comprises the steps of
- 1. forming a solution, in an organic solvent, of a copolymer of maleic anhydride with a vinyl monomer copolymerizable therewith,
- 2. adding to said solution from about 0.25 to 2.5 percent by weight, based on the weight of copolymer present, of a cross-linking agent consisting of a polyfunctional organic compound in which the functional groups are adapted to react with carboxylic acid anhydrides,
- 3. extruding the solution of copolymer and cross-linking agent into a shaped form,
- 4. drying and curing the resulting shaped form of copolymer at an elevated temperature of at least about 50 C. for a period of time sufficient to effectuate cross-linking of the copolymer, and
- 5. reacting the resulting cured product with ammonia or an alkali metal
A water-insoluble, water-swellable polymer product prepared by the
As an article of manufacture a water-insoluble, water-swellable polymeric fiber composed of the ammonium or alkali metal salt form of a copolymer of maleic anhydride with a vinyl monomer copolymerizable therewith, said copolymer having been cross-linked by reaction with from about 0.25 to 2.5 percent by weight of the copolymer of a polyfunctional organic compound in which the functional groups are adapted to react with
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.