Study On Synthesis And Properties Of P(AM-co-AMPS)-based Superabsorbent

Superabsorbent polymer is a kind of functional materials which can absorb a large amount of water and the absorbed water is difficult to remove even under some pressure. Because of these excellent characteristics, superabsorbent polymers are widely used in many fields. In this paper, two kinds of materials are studied, the copolymer of acrylamide(AM) and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) is synthesized by aqueous solution polymerization on the conditions of potassium sulfate as initiator, N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide as crosslinker, and using P(AM-co-AMPS) as organic phase, SiO2 derived from the TEOS precursor as inorganic phase, P(AM-co-AMPS)/SiO2 hybird superabsorbent polymer is prepared by situ-gel aqueous solution polymerization method. The influence of synthetic condition on the distilled or salinity water absorbency of the materials and monomer fractional conversion are discussed systematically, and a suitable preparation condition are determined. The water absorbency, sanlinity water absorbency and monomer fractional conversion of P(AM-co-AMPS) superabsorbent can reach 1756g/g, 96g/g, 85% respectively. P(AM-co-AMPS)/SiO2 superabosrbent is up to 1769g/g, 105g/g, 83% respective.Based on the characterization of FTIR, SEM, XRD, EDS, transmisivity as well as measuring of the water absorbency, velocity of absorbency, capability of heat-resistance, capacity of water retaining and intensity of gel. It is found that the SiO₂ is dispersed in the organic matrix even, the gel intensity and heat-resistance of the materials is enhanced. The relationships among synthesizing - composing -structure - performance of P(AM-co-AMPS)/SiO2 hybird superabsorbent polymers are studied comprehensively.The effect of environmental conditions on the water absorbency of P(AM-co-AMPS) & P(AM-co-AMPS)/SiO2 superabsorbent polymers has been studied, showed that the hybrid mentioned above might be used as superabsorbent materials. The effect of ionic strength on swelling kinetics and swelling theory are also analyzed.