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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Characterization of a Superabsorbent Polymer.

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We studied an amorphous polymer superabsorbent, able to absorb until 1000 times its weight of water. It is consisted of macromolecular chains, dependent between them by chemical bonds. The swelling of the product in the presence of water gives rise to a polyelectrolytic gel. The chemical analysis of polymer by energy dispersive spectrometry and photoelectrons spectroscopy with a microsounder X showed that the product is homogeneous. It contains carbon, oxygen, and sodium. The measurements of specific surface of the product show that the polymer is nonporous and present a weak surface of about 2.1 m2/g. The thermal study of polymer showed that, under the effect of the temperature and with atmospheric pressure, the polymer is degraded only at temperatures higher than 200°C and becomes porous. When the material is heated at higher temperature of 200°C, its surface becomes increasingly porous with also an increase in the size of the pores. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 782–786, 2007