Radiation synthesis of a super absorbent polymer and its ultraviolet resistance property

Abstract

A super absorbent polymer (SAP), sodium lignosulfonate (LS)/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), was produced from LS and CMC through the irradiation of γ-rays. The effects of the absorbed dose and LS dosage on the water absorption performance of the SAP were investigated. The ultraviolet (UV) resistance of the SAP was also evaluated. The surface morphology, chemical structures, and thermal weightlessness of the SAP were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The optimal conditions for preparing the SAP were as follows: 20 g of CMC, 1 g of LS, 100 g of water, and 15 kGy of absorbed dose. The water absorption capacities of the prepared SAP were 316.1 g/g and 97.1 g/g for deionized water and 0.9% NaCl solution, respectively. Therefore, the water absorption capacity improved with the addition of LS. Moreover, after irradiation with a 365-nm-wavelength UV lamp (16 W) for 15 d, the water absorption capacity (deionized water) of the LS1/CMC SAP was 276 g/g, while that of the LS0/CMC SAP decreased from 259.3 g/g to 176.7 g/g. Finally, the as-prepared SAP exhibited outstanding UV resistance.

Keywords

• sodium lignosulfonate
• sodium carboxymethyl cellulose
• irradiation polymerization
• super absorbent polymer
• uv resistance