METHOD OF SURFACE CROSS-LINKING SUPERABSORBENT POLYMER PARTICLES USING ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION AND BRONSTED ACIDS

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of surface cross-linking superabsorbent polymer particles using UV irradiation. The superabsorbent polymer particles for use in the method of the present invention have a relatively high degree of neutralization. Brønsted acids are selectively applied onto the surface of the superabsorbent polymer particles to selectively facilitate a relatively high number of protonated carboxyl groups at the surface of the superabsorbent polymer particles while the relatively high degree of neutralization in the core of the superabsorbent polymer particles remains substantially unaffected.