Polymeric composition for the absorption of proteinaceous fluids

A blood-swellable, generally blood-insoluble polymeric composition, said composition comprising:

• at least about 50 mole percent of a polymerized acrylic acid monomer;
• and
• a crosslinking agent;
• said polymeric composition being characterized in that it has a 6-minute bovine blood absorption capacity of at least about 14 grams per gram, a 60-minute bovine blood absorption capacity of at least about 40 grams per gram, and a degree of neutralization between about 10 and about 45 mole percent of said carboxyl groups, wherein at least about 80 percent of the neutralized carboxyl groups, are neutralized with a potassium or lithium base.

An absorbent product for the absorption of proteinaceous body fluids, the product comprising:

• an outer moisture-impermeable cover;
• a body side liner superposed in facing relation to said outer cover and adapted to contact the skin of a wearer;
• and
• an absorbent structure located therebetween, said absorbent structure comprising a blood-swellable, generally blood-insoluble polymeric composition comprising:
• at least about 20 mole percent based on said polymeric composition of a polymerized carboxyl group-containing monomer;
• and
• a crosslinking agent;
• said polymeric composition being characterized in that:
• (a) it has a degree of neutralization within a range of from about 10 to about 45 mole percent of said carboxyl groups,
• (b) at least 50 percent of the neutralized carboxyl groups are neutralized with a potassium or lithium base.