Super absorbent hydrogel foams
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsKinam Park, Haesun Park
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Abstract
A water swellable foam matrix formed as a macroporous solid comprising a foam stabilizing agent and a polymer or copolymer of a free radical polymerizable hydrophilic olefin monomer crosslinked with about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of a multiolefin-functional crosslinking agent is described. The foam matrix is characterized by rapid swelling and high water swelling ratios.
Claims12
An absorbent hydrogel foam comprising
- a solid phase comprising a surfactant and a polymer or copolymer of a free radical polymerizable hydrophilic olefin monomer crosslinked with about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of a crosslinking agent having at least two alkenyl groups;
- and
- a gas phase, wherein the ratio of the volume of the gas phase to the volume of the solid phase is at least one.
A method for producing a water absorbent hydrogel foam matrix, said method comprising the steps of
- polymerizing at least one hydrophilic olefin monomer compound in an aqueous solution, said aqueous solution comprising about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of a crosslinking agent having at least two alkenyl groups and a surfactant;
- introducing gas into the monomer solution during said polymerization step to form a foamed polymer matrix hydrogel foam;
- contacting the hydrogel foam with a volatile water miscible solvent;
- and
- drying said hydrogel foam.
A water swellable hydrogel foam formed as a macroporous solid comprising a foam stabilizing agent and a polymer or copolymer of a free radical polymerizable hydrophilic olefin monomer crosslinked with about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of a crosslinking agent having at least two alkenyl groups, wherein a volume of said hydrogel foam, having a size greater than 2 mm in its smallest dimension, exhibits a water swelling ratio of at least 15 within one hour of contact with an aqueous solution.
A water swellable hydrogel foam formed as a macroporous solid comprising a surfactant and polymer or copolymer of a free radical polymerizable hydrophilic olefin monomer crosslinked with about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of a crosslinking agent having at least two alkenyl groups, wherein a volume of said hydrogel foam, having a size greater than 1 mm in its smallest dimension, exhibits greater than 50% of its maximum swelling ratio within one hour of contact with an aqueous solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.