# US 8,541,643 B2 · Superabsorbents, nanofiber nonwovens finished therewith and use thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,541,643 B2 - Document ID: US8541643B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/568,608 - Filed: 2005-12-23 - Published: 2008-10-16 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2005-08-05 - Assignees: Schill & Seilacher GmbH & Co. - Applicants: Horst Ring; Roland Harbig - Inventors: Horst Ring; Roland Harbig - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541643B2 ## CPC - C08J 3/12: Powdering or granulating - A61L 15/60: Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents - D04H 1/407: containing absorbing substances, e.g. activated carbon - D04H 1/4358: Polyurethanes - D04H 1/728: by electro-spinning {(electro-spinning methods and apparatus D01D5/0007)} - D04H 3/009: Condensation or reaction polymers - D04H 3/016: characterised by the fineness - D04H 3/03: at random - D06M 15/263: of unsaturated carboxylic acids; Salts or esters thereof - D06M 23/08: Processes in which the treating agent is applied in powder or granular form (adhesives for multi-layer textile fabrics D06M17/00) - A61L 2400/12: Nanosized materials, e.g. nanofibres, nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes; Nanostructured surfaces - C08J 2300/14: Water soluble or water swellable polymers, e.g. aqueous gels - D06M 2101/38: Polyurethanes - D06M 2200/00: Functionality of the treatment composition and/or properties imparted to the textile material - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B) - D06M: TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS ## Abstract The invention relates to a superabsorbent powder consisting of polymer particles which have a core swelling in the presence of water and a superficially postcured shell, in which the powder is a screening fraction of such polymer particles which have not been crushed after the superficial postcure of their shell. This superabsorbent powder is especially suitable for the finishing of textile webs made of super-fine fibers or filaments with a diameter of less than 10 μm, in particular for the finishing of sanitary products. There is further proposed the use of a nanofiber nonwoven, finished with a superabsorbent for the absorption and retention of hydrophilic fluids, for the absorption and/or sustained release of at least one of the following fluids: body fluids, sweat of humans and animals, water, including cooling water, condensation water and water vapor, chemicals, including agrochemicals and pesticides, pharmaceuticals, biocides, germicides and fungicides, diagnostics, fire protection and fire extinguishing agents, cleaning agents, hydraulic fluids, heating and cooling fluids, sewage, including radioactively contaminated fluids, perfumes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for the finishing of textile webs comprising combining a textile web with a superabsorbent powder wherein the superabsorbent powder comprises polymer particles having a core swelling in the presence of water and a superficially postcured shell; wherein the superabsorbent powder is surface cross-linked to form the superficially postcured shell and thereafter screened to a screening fraction of the polymer particles with an intact core/shell structure after the superficial postcure of their shell, wherein the screening fraction of said powder has a grain size distribution of d50=55 to 100 μm and d100=100 to 150 μm, and wherein said textile web is made from a nanofiber nonwoven formed of super-fine fibers or super-fine filaments having a diameter of less than 10 μm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein products made of electrostatically spun nanofibers are used as said textile webs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the fibers or filaments comprise a thermoplastic and hydrophilic or hydrophilized polymer which is melt-spinnable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The process according to claim 3, wherein the fibers or filaments comprise polyurethane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the textile webs constitute a sanitary product. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The process according to claim 5, wherein said sanitary product is selected from the group consisting of an incontinence product, a sanitary napkin and a wound dressing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein said polymer is a (meth)acrylate or a (meth)acryl copolymer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein said polymer is sodium polyacrylate. ### Claim 9 A process for finishing a nanofiber nonwoven for the absorption and retention of hydrophilic fluids comprising combining said nonwoven with a superabsorbent powder consisting of polymer particles which have a core swelling in the presence of water and a superficially postcured shell, wherein said powder is surface cross-linked to form said superficially postcured shell and thereafter screened to a screening fraction of such polymer particles with an intact core/shell structure after the superficial postcure of their shell, said screening fraction of said powder having a grain size distribution of d50=55 to 100 μm and d100=100 to 150 μm, and wherein said nanofiber nonwoven is formed of super-fine fibers or super-fine filaments having a diameter of less than 1 μm so as to allow at least one of the following fluids to be uptaken by and/or sustainedly released from said nanofiber nonwoven: body fluids, sweat of humans and animals, water, including cooling water, condensation water and water vapor, chemicals, including agrochemicals and pesticides, pharmaceuticals, biocides, germicides and fungicides, diagnostics, fire protection and fire extinguishing agents, cleaning agents, hydraulic fluids, heating and cooling fluids, sewage, including radioactively contaminated fluids, perfumes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The process according to claim 9, wherein said nanofiber nonwoven is either one of an incontinence article, diaper, sanitary napkin, wound dressing, cooling compress, sanitary tissue, cosmetic pad or bed inlay or a part of the aforementioned goods. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The process according to claim 9, wherein said nanofiber nonwoven is a sweat absorbing padding material for shoes, garments, headgears, headbands, gloves, upholstered furniture, vehicle seats, saddles, bed linen, bedspreads, horse blankets, sports goods or pieces of sports equipment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The process according to claim 9, wherein said nanofiber nonwoven is either one of a wipe, floor cloth, casualty protection mat, camping mat, tarpaulin, wet cloth, drying cloth, polishing cloth, cleaning cloth or washleather or a part of the aforementioned goods. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The process according to claim 9, wherein said nanofiber nonwoven is either one of a floor covering or wall covering, parquet underlay sheeting, roof underlay sheeting, fire protection mat, leakage protection mat, mat for the lining of damp rooms, tents, vehicles, tanks or containers or a part of the aforementioned goods. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The process according to claim 9, wherein said nanofiber nonwoven is either one of a filter material, packaging material, sheathing, insulating material or sealing material or a part of the aforementioned goods. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The process according to claim 9, wherein said nanofiber nonwoven is either one of a geo web, drainage mat, agro web or nonwoven for the sustained release of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fertilizers or pesticides. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The process according to claim 9, wherein the nonwoven is manufactured of electrostatically spun nanofibers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The process according to claim 9, wherein the fibers or filaments of the nonwoven comprises a thermoplastic and hydrophilic or hydrophilized polymer which is melt-spinnable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The process according to claim 17, wherein the fibers or filaments comprise polyurethane. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The process of claim 9, wherein said polymer is a (meth)acrylate or a (meth)acryl copolymer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The process of claim 9, wherein said polymer is sodium polyacrylate.