Mixed Polymer Superabsorbent Fibers And Method For Their Preparation

Abstract

A method for making mixed polymer composite fibers in which a carboxyalkyl cellulose and a galactomannan polymer or a glucomannan polymer are blended in water to provide an aqueous solution; the aqueous solution treated with a first crosslinking agent to provide a gel; the gel is formed into get fibers using melt blowing, centrifugal spinning, wet spinning or dry-jet wet spinning; and the fibers treated with water miscible solvent to form mixed polymer composite fibers. The fiber has a diameter in the range of 50 μm to 1000 μm.

1 . A method for making mixed polymer composite fibers, comprising:
 (a) blending a carboxyalkyl cellulose and a galactomannan polymer or glucomannan polymer in water to provide an aqueous solution;   (b) treating the aqueous solution with a first crosslinking agent to provide a gel;   (c) forming gel fibers from the get using melt blowing, centrifugal spinning, wet spinning, or dry-jet wet spinning,   (d) treating the gel fibers with a water-miscible solvent to provide mixed polymer composite fibers.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step (d) the gel fibers are treated in a solvent bath. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein in step (d) the gel fibers are treated by a solvent spray. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising drying the fiberized fibers to provide dried crosslinked mixed polymer composite fibers. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carboxyalkyl cellulose has a degree of carboxyl group substitution of from about 0.3 to about 2.5. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carboxyalkyl cellulose is carboxymethyl cellulose. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the galactomannan polymer is selected from the group consisting of guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum, and fenugreek gum. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the glucomannan polymer is konjac gum. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises from about 60 to about 99 percent by weight carboxyalkyl cellulose based on the total weight of mixed polymer composite fibers. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises from about 1 to about 20 percent by weight galactomannan or glucomannan polymer based on the total weight of mixed polymer composite fibers. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first crosslinking agent is a carboxyl group crosslinking agent. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first crosslinking agent is a hydroxyl group crosslinking agent. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of aluminum (III) compounds, titanium (IV) compounds, bismuth (III) compounds, boron (III) compounds, and zirconium (IV) compounds. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first crosslinking agent is applied in an amount from about 0.1 to about 20 percent by weight based on the total weight of mixed polymer composite fibers. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water-miscible solvent is an alcohol. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water-miscible solvent is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising treating the gel fibers with a second crosslinking agent during step (d). 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of aluminum (III) compounds, titanium (IV) compounds, bismuth (III) compounds, boron (III) compounds, and zirconium (IV) compounds. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second crosslinking agent is applied in an amount from about 0.1 to about 20 percent by weight based on the total weight of crosslinked fibers. 
   
   
       21 . A mixed polymer composite fiber, comprising a carboxyalkyl cellulose and a galactomannan polymer or a glucomannan polymer, having a diameter in the range of 50 μm to 1000 μm.