Know Super Absorbent Polymer Powder

Super absorbent polymer powder is a new type of functional polymer material, which is widely used in medical and health fields due to its good water absorption and water retention properties. This article introduces the history and advantages of super absorbent polymer powder.

1.History of super absorbent polymer powder

For a long time, absorbent materials have been playing an important role in our production and life. Before the 1950s, the absorbent materials used in our production and life were mainly some natural products, such as polysaccharides, cellulose, etc. Among them, the most well-known natural cellulose was cotton; there were also some inorganic substances. Such as silica gel, calcium oxide and sulfuric acid. However, these materials, as water-absorbing materials, have poor water-absorbing ability and easily release the absorbed water under the action of external force (such as pressure), which limits the application scope of such water-absorbing materials. In the 1960s, a new type of water-absorbing material such as superabsorbent resin was gradually developed. It is a high molecular polymer material with a three-dimensional network structure. It usually contains hydrophilic groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, amide, sulfonic acid, sulfinic acid, and phosphoric acid. It is insoluble in water and can Absorbs a lot of moisture and retains moisture under autoclavable conditions.

2. Advantages of super absorbent polymer powder

Compared with traditional water-absorbing materials, the advantages of super absorbent polymer powder are as follows:

(1) Good water absorption. The water absorption of traditional water-absorbing materials can only reach tens or hundreds of times, but its water-absorbing performance is more than a thousand times its own weight, and its water-absorbing performance is even better.

(2) Strong water retention. The traditional water-absorbing material relies on its own loose porous structure to temporarily absorb the water, and the water is in a free form in the space. Under the action of external force (such as extrusion, centrifugation, etc.), the water is easily released again. Its molecular chain contains a large number of water-absorbing groups, which can combine with water molecules to form hydrogen bonds and physical adsorption to lock a large number of water molecules in the swollen gel network, and still retain water under conditions such as external force extrusion or heating.

(3) Recyclable. Its swelling can absorb a hundred times or even a thousand times its own water, but it is insoluble in the solution. After drying the swollen water-absorbent resin to lose water, it can also absorb water again, and repeat the water absorption and release, that is, it is recycled.

(4) Biocompatibility and microbial degradability. Natural macromolecules have their unique biocompatibility and degradability, and are introduced during their preparation, and the prepared materials have biocompatibility and microbial degradability.

These advantages determine its wide application in life, such as hygiene products, medical dressings, building materials and agriculture, forestry and gardening.

Super absorbent polymer powder is a kind of polymer material widely used in industry and medical and health industries. Knowing about super absorbent polymer powder will help people to better use this new material.