Superabsorbent acrylic powders

Abstract

Particulates of a superabsorbent partially, neutralized acrylic polymer, e.g., polyacrylic acid, having a mean particle size ranging from 100 to 500 .mu.m, essentially monodisperse and essentially devoid of fines having a particle size of less than 100 .mu.m, having a nonuniformly surfaced spheroidal particle morphology and well suited for a variety of hygienic applications, are prepared by (i) polymerizing a suspension of an acrylic monomer charge I in an organic medium and producing a suspension of acrylic polymer gel particles, such acrylic monomer charge I having a degree of neutralization greater than that desired in the final superabsorbent polymer, (ii) next absorbing a second acrylic monomer charge II into the gel particles, such acrylic monomer charge II having a degree of neutralization less than that desired in the final superabsorbent polymer, and (iii) polymerizing in the gel particles the second acrylic monomer charge II.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.