Method for production of cross-linked polymer

Abstract

A method for producing a cross-linked polymer manifesting a high absorption capacity and having a small content of soluble component by a convenient and expeditious process with high productivity is provided. An absorbent resin such that disposable diapers and other products incorporating the absorbent resin manifest outstanding qualities and a method for the production of the absorbent resin are proposed. The cross-linked polymer according to this invention is produced by a method of polymerizing an aqueous polymerizable monomer solution containing a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a first cross-linking agent capable of forming a hydrogel polymer by polymerization, which method comprises the steps of performing the polymerization in a substantially static state from the time at which the polymerization is initiated till the time at which the whole polymerization system is gelated, subsequently giving the polymerization system a thorough shearing force thereby granulating the hydrogel polymer before the polymerization system has the temperature thereof elevated by the heat of polymerization to the highest level, and further continuing the polymerization.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.