Enhancement of Gel Strength of Itaconic Acid-Based Superabsorbent Polymer Composites Using Oxidized Starch

Herein, core-superabsorbent polymer (CSAP) composites are prepared from oxidized starch (OS) via aqueous solution copolymerization using ammonium persulfate as the initiator, and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate as the inner-crosslinker. The surface-crosslinking process is performed using various surface-crosslinkers, including bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE), ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDGE), and diglycidyl ether (DGE). The structures of the CSAP composites and their surface-crosslinked SAPs (SSAPs) are characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, their absorption properties are measured via centrifuge retention capacity (CRC), absorbency under load (AUL), permeability, and re-swellability tests, and their gel strengths according to surface-crosslinker type and EGDGE content are examined via rheological analysis. The results indicate that an EGDGE content of 0.75 mol provides the optimum surface-crosslinking and SSAP performance, with a CRC of 34.8 g/g, an AUL of 27.2 g/g, and a permeability of 43 s. The surface-crosslinking of the CSAP composites using OS is shown to improve the gel strength, thus enabling the SAP to be used in disposable diapers.

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Synthesis of Network Polymers by Means of Addition Reactions of Multifunctional-Amine and Poly(ethylene glycol) Diglycidyl Ether or Diacrylate Compounds

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym12092047 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 2047

Author(s):

Naofumi Naga ◽

Mitsusuke Sato ◽

Kensuke Mori ◽

Hassan Nageh ◽

Tamaki Nakano

Keyword(s):

Ethylene Glycol ◽

Room Temperature ◽

Addition Reaction ◽

Monomer Concentration ◽

Diglycidyl Ether ◽

Porous Polymers ◽

Addition Reactions ◽

Poly Ethylene Glycol ◽

Network Polymers ◽

Poly Ethylene

Addition reactions of multi-functional amine, polyethylene imine (PEI) or diethylenetriamine (DETA), and poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) or poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), have been investigated to obtain network polymers in H2O, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and ethanol (EtOH). Ring opening addition reaction of the multi-functional amine and PEGDE in H2O at room temperature or in DMSO at 90 °C using triphenylphosphine as a catalyst yielded gels. Aza-Michael addition reaction of the multi-functional amine and PEGDA in DMSO or EtOH at room temperature also yielded corresponding gels. Compression test of the gels obtained with PEI showed higher Young’s modulus than those with DETA. The reactions of the multi-functional amine and low molecular weight PEGDA in EtOH under the specific conditions yielded porous polymers induced by phase separation during the network formation. The morphology of the porous polymers could be controlled by the reaction conditions, especially monomer concentration and feed ratio of the multi-functional amine to PEGDA of the reaction system. The porous structure was formed by connected spheres or a co-continuous monolithic structure. The porous polymers were unbreakable by compression, and their Young’s modulus increased with the increase in the monomer concentration of the reaction systems. The porous polymers absorbed various solvents derived from high affinity between the polyethylene glycol units in the network structure and the solvents.

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Effective Enhancement of Water Absorbency of Itaconic Acid Based-Superabsorbent Polymer via Tunable Surface—Crosslinking

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13162782 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (16) ◽

pp. 2782

Author(s):

Yong-Rok Kwon ◽

Jung-Soo Kim ◽

Dong-Hyun Kim

Keyword(s):

Itaconic Acid ◽

Photoelectron Spectroscopy ◽

Crosslinking Agent ◽

Absorption Capacity ◽

Gel Strength ◽

Superabsorbent Polymer ◽

Optimal Conditions ◽

Retention Capacity ◽

X Ray ◽

Crosslinking Reactions

A superabsorbent polymer (SAP) was synthesized by copolymerizing itaconic acid and vinyl sulfonic acid. The typically low absorbency of itaconic acid-based SAPs under mechanical loads was improved by introducing surface crosslinking. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesis and surface-crosslinking reactions in the SAP. Various conditions for surface-crosslinking reactions, such as the surface-crosslinking solution, content of surface-crosslinking agent, and reaction temperature, were explored and correlated with the gel strength and absorption characteristics of the resulting SAP particles. The distilled water content in the surface-crosslinking solution strongly influenced the absorption capacity of the SAP, but this sensitivity decreased when acetone was used as a co-solvent. Itaconic acid-based SAP that was crosslinked under optimal conditions exhibited centrifuge retention capacity and absorbency under a load of 31.1 and 20.2, respectively.

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Molecular Mobility and Ionic Conductivity of Network PolymerElectrolytes Containing Poly（ethylene glycol） Diglycidyl Ether

Journal of The Adhesion Society of Japan ◽

10.11618/adhesion.54.251 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 54 (7) ◽

pp. 251-257

Author(s):

Takeshi KAKIBE ◽

Naoya SAKAUE ◽

Wataru NAGATSUKA ◽

ENDO Masanobu ◽

Hajime KISHI

Keyword(s):

Ionic Conductivity ◽

Ethylene Glycol ◽

Molecular Mobility ◽

Diglycidyl Ether ◽

Poly Ethylene Glycol ◽

Poly Ethylene

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Toxicity Assessment of a Single Dose of Poly(ethylene glycol) Diglycidyl Ether (PEGDE) Administered Subcutaneously in Mice

Toxics ◽

10.3390/toxics9120354 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 354

Author(s):

Do-Hyun Kim ◽

Jong-Hyeon Han ◽

Hyuk-Cheol Kwon ◽

Su-Jin Lim ◽

Seo-Gu Han ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Ethylene Glycol ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Diglycidyl Ether ◽

Organ Weight ◽

The Body ◽

The Other ◽

Poly Ethylene Glycol ◽

Weight Variation ◽

Poly Ethylene

Poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) is widely used to cross-link polymers, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biomaterial sectors. However, the subcutaneous toxicity of PEGDE has not yet been assessed. PEGDE samples (500–40,000 μg/mouse) were subcutaneously injected into the paraspinal dorsum of BALB/c male mice. Cage-side observations were carried out with measurement of organ weight, body weight variation, and feed intake, as well as histopathological characterization on day 28 post-exposure. Mice that received 40,000 μg of PEGDE showed severe toxic response and had to be euthanized. Subcutaneous injection of PEGDE did not alter feed intake and organ weight; however, the body weight variation of mice injected with 20,000 μg of PEGDE was significantly lower than that of the other groups. Exposure to 10,000 and 20,000 μg of PEGDE induced epidermal ulcer formation and hair loss. The histology of skin tissue in mice administered with 20,000 μg of PEGDE showed re-epithelialized or unhealed wounds. However, the liver, spleen, and kidneys were histologically normal. Collectively, PEGDE, particularly above 10,000 μg/mouse, caused subcutaneous toxicity with ulceration, but no toxicity in the other organs. These results may indicate the optimal concentration of subcutaneously injected PEGDE.

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