Method for hydrophilizing absorbent foam materials

A method for rendering substantially hydrophobic polymeric foam material suitable for absorbing hydrophilic liquids, which method comprises

• A) incorporating an aqueous solution containing from about 1% to 10% by weight of calcium chloride in water into a polymeric foam material prepared by polymerizing a water-in-oil emulsion containing polymerizable monomers and from about 0.5% to 20% by weight of the polymerizable monomers of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monolaurate and mixtures of sorbitan monooleate and sorbitan trioleate in the oil phase of said emulsion;
• and
• B) thereafter drying said polymeric foam material to remove water therefrom and to leave incorporated within said foam material at least about 0.05% by weight of said foam material of surfactant plus calcium chloride and no more than about 50% by weight of said foam material of free water.

A hydrophilized polymeric foam material suitable for absorbing hydrophilic liquids, said hydrophilized polymeric foam material comprising a substantially hydrophobic polymeric foam material;

• a hydrophilizing amount of at least about 0.05% by weight of said polymeric foam material of the combination of a substantially water-insoluble surfactant selected from the group consisting of sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyglycerol fatty acid esters and polyoxyethylene fatty acids and esters and a hydrophilizing salt selected from the group consisting of toxicologically acceptable, hydrated or hydratable calcium and magnesium salts, incorporated into aid polymeric foam material;
• and no more than about 50% by weight of said polymeric foam material of free water incorporated within said polymeric foam material.