PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WATER ABSORBING POLYMERS

摘要

Highly water-absorbing polymers containing a small amount of oligomers which can be extracted with water or physiological saline solution are obtained by reacting a crosslinked carboxyl- and/or carboxylate-containing polymer, for example poly(meth)acrylic acid, first with an unsaturated hydrophobic glycidyl compound and then polymerising the reaction product. The polymerisation is advantageously carried out in the presence of a polyfunctional crosslinking agent. In this way, polymers containing less than 10 % by weight of extractable oligomers can be obtained. These polymers are used for absorption of body fluids in the hygiene sector.