Super-absorbing textiles

Thus, in capillaries having, say, a radius of 10 m, as may exist in capillary blood vessels, (super)absorbents, textiles, powders, soils and sediments, and other porous materials, water (y 72 mN m ) would rise about 1.5 m. 

Functional derivatives of polyethylene, particularly poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(acryLic acid) and derivatives, have received attention because of their water-solubility and disposal iato the aqueous environment. Poly(vinyl alcohol) is used ia a wide variety of appHcations, including textiles, paper, plastic films, etc, and poly(acryLic acid) is widely used ia detergents as a builder, a super-absorbent for diapers and feminine hygiene products, for water treatment, ia thickeners, as pigment dispersant, etc (see Vinyl polymers, vinyl alcohol polymers). 

Dextrose, obtained from starch, is the raw material for sorbitol and other sugar alcohols and polyols. Isolated starch (usually from corn) can be chemical modified and is used in large amounts as an inexpensive binder in the textile and paper industry. Chemically modified starch can be used as super-absorbers or in polymer manufacturing. 

Fibers are the basic element of nonwovens world consumption of fibers in nonwoven production is 63% polypropylene, 23% polyester, 8% viscose rayon, 2% acrylic, 1.5% polyamide and 3% other high performance fibers [8]. The data in Fig. 10.4 shows the market share of important polymers and fibers in the nonwovens market. Manufacturers of nonwoven products can make use of almost any kind of fibers. These include traditional textile fibers, as well as recently developed hi-tech fibers. Future advancements will be in bicomponent fibers, micro-fibers (split bicomponent fibers or meltblown nonwovens), nano-fibers, biodegradable fibers, super-absorbent fibers and high performance fibers. The selection of raw fibers, to a considerable degree, determines the properties of the final nonwoven products. The selection of fibers also depends on customer requirement, cost, processability, changes of properties because of web formation and consolidation. The fibers can be in the form of filament, staple fiber or even yam. 

Adivarekar, R. V., Kanoongo, N. V., Sabale, A. G. (2007). Super absorbent polymers in textiles. Asian Textile Journal, 31—38. 

Acrylic acid is an important chemical building block used in the manufacture of polyacrylates and commodity acrylates. Commodity acrylates, such as methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, are utilized in various industrial applications, including coatings, adhesives and sealants, textiles and fibers, polymer additives/impact modifiers, and films. Polyacrylates are extensively used as super absorbent polymers. Bio-based acrylic acid can be obtained through the fermentation of carbohydrates to 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HPA), and further dehydration of 3-HPA gives acrylic acid. 3-HPA could also be used as a precursor to other important chemical building blocks, such as PDO, acrylonitrile, and acrylamide. Via another route, glycerol can be chemically converted to acrylic acid, either by dehydration to acrolein followed by oxidation to the final product or in a one-step oxydehydration. 

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