Effect of Crosslinker Type on the Properties of Surface-Crosslinked Poly(sodium acrylate) Superabsorbents

Abstract:

A series of poly (sodium acrylate) superabsorbents hydrogels were synthesized through aqueous solution using N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (NNMBA), pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC) as crosslink agents separately to investigate the effect of crosslinker type on the properties of acrylic-based superabsorbents. Furthermore, the polymers were surface-crosslinked using trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether to improve the properties of swollen hydrogel. The morphology of the samples was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The swelling behaviors in 0.9 wt% NaCl aqueous solution and synthetic urine were investigated, and the compressive strength, salt sensitivity and water retention ability were also investigated. The results showed that the superabsorbent crosslinked by PETA which was a three-functional agent had the most water absorbency under load and the highest compressive strength compared with others, while the superabsorbent crosslinked by DMDAAC which was a cationic crosslinker had the best salt resistance and the most water absorbency under atmospheric pressure.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 936)
• Pages: 89-94
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.936.89
• Online since: June 2014
• Authors: Yun Xiong, Xu Zhang, Ming Zhu Liu*
• Keywords: Acrylic Acid, Compressive Strength, Crosslinker Type, Salt Sensitivity, Superabsorbent

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