Process for cocrosslinking water soluble polymers and products thereof
AssigneeUnion Carbide Corporation
InventorsPer G. Assarsson, Paul A. King
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Poly(ethylene oxide) and at least one other water soluble polymer are conveniently cocrosslinked by exposing aqueous systems of the polymers to high energy irradiation. The resulting products are insoluble hydrophilic gels which can contain or when dried absorb large quantities of aqueous fluids and hence are useful as absorbing media for disposable absorbent articles, agricultural applications and the like.
Claims8
A process for cocrosslinking at least two water soluble polymers one of which is poly(ethylene oxide) and the other is a second polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, ammonium polyacrylate, vinylmethyl ether-maleic anhydride copolymer and ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer said process comprising the steps of:
- a. forming an aqueous solution comprising up to 50 per cent by weight of poly(ethylene oxide) and said second polymer,
- b. adjusting the pH of said solution to within the range of from about 2 to about 11,
- c. intimately mixing said solution to form a homogeneous or heterogeneous micro-phase system, and
- d. before any substantial phase separation, exposing said solution to ionizing radiation of a sufficient dosage and for a period of time to form a gel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.