Disposable absorbent articles containing particulate, free-flowing, insoluble swellable polymers

• US 4,058,124 A
• Filed: 03/28/1975
• Issued: 11/15/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Osterholtz, Frederick D., Yen, Steven N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Turer, Richard B.
• Application Number:
  US05/563,128
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 204/159.12, 204/159.14, 204/159.16, 204/159.19, 128/284, 128/285, 128/290, 260/42.12, 260/42.17, 260/42.29, 260/42.51, 260/42.53, 260/42.54
• US Class Current: 604/368
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 24/23 Wood, e.g. wood chips or sawdust
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 24/35 containing water-absorbing polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 24/42 of granular or aggregated structure
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/10 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/18 containing inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/20 containing organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/40 containing ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof , e.g. plant or animal extracts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/60 Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/00 Other inorganic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/37 layered or coated with a polymer
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/40 Fertilisers incorporated into a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2300/10 Polymers characterised by the presence of specified groups, e.g. terminal or pendant functional groups
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2300/14 Water soluble or water swellable polymers, e.g. aqueous gels
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/12 Powdering or granulating
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/124 Treatment for improving the free-flowing characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/205 in the presence of a continuous liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/28 Treatment by wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 101/00 Compositions of unspecified macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 17/16 applied in a physical form other than a solution or a grout, e.g. as platelets or granules
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 17/18 Prepolymers; Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 17/22 : Polyacrylates; Polymethacrylates
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 17/40 : containing mixtures of inorganic and organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 47/10 : Physical and chemical treatment of agricultural soils
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/904 : Tampons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 71/903 : Soil conditioner

Abstract

Particulate, free-flowing, insoluble swellable polymers are provided which are comprised of a mixture of an insoluble, swellable hydrogel and inert filler. The mixtures are free-flowing powders or granules which can absorb many times their weight of water and hence are useful as a soil amendment.

Claims

1. A disposable absorbent article containing a mixture prepared by:

a. blending at least one water soluble pulverulent hydrophilic polymer and at least one pulverulent inert filler in a ratio of polymer to filler of from about 1;

9 to about 9;

1, a substantial portion of said filler having a particle size less than that of said polymer and present in an amount sufficient to cover a substantial portion of the surface area of said pulverulent polymer.

b. thereafter while said blending is continued, contacting said mixture under thorough agitation with a finely divided spray of water at a rate and in an amount not to exceed that at which the mixture is maintained in a free-flowing particulate form, and

c. thereafter exposing said mixture in said free-flowing particulate form to ionizing radiation for a period of time to crosslink said polymer.

2. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 which is a catamenial device.

3. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 which is a sanitary napkin.

4. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 which is a tampon.

5. The disposable absorbent article of claim 1 which is a diaper.