Claims
- 1. A method for enhancing the blood absorbence properties of superabsorbent material having a hydrogen bond forming functionality comprising the steps:
selecting an enhancing agent from the group consisting of non-polymeric organic enhancing agents and combinations thereof nonreactive with each other, the enhancing agents comprising enhancing agent molecules, the enhancing agent molecules having at least one functional group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the superabsorbent material; and applying the enhancing agent in liquid or solution form onto the superabsorbent material, the enhancing agent being present on the superabsorbent material in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 10 percent of the weight of the superabsorbent material.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancing agent forms hydrogen bonds with the superabsorbent material.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the nonpolymeric organic enhancing agent has a volatility less than water.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-polymeric organic enhancing agent is present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 3 percent of the weight of the superabsorbent material.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-polymeric organic enhancing agent is present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 1 percent of the weight of the superabsorbent material.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the free swell blood absorbent capacity of the superabsorbent material treated with enhancing agent is at least about 1.2 times the free swell blood absorbent capacity of untreated superabsorbent material.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the after load blood absorbent capacity of the superabsorbent material treated with enhancing agent is at least about 1.2 times the after load blood absorbent capacity of untreated superabsorbent material.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the free swell blood absorbent capacity of the superabsorbent material treated with enhancing agent is at least about double the free swell blood absorbent capacity of untreated superabsorbent material.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the after load blood absorbent capacity of the superabsorbent material treated with enhancing agent is at least about double the after load blood absorbent capacity of untreated superabsorbent material.
- 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the nonpolymeric organic enhancing agent has functional groups selected from the group consisting of a carboxyl, a carboxylate, a carbonyl, a sulfonic acid, a sulfonate, a sulfonamide, a hydroxyl, a phosphoric acid, a phosphoramide, a phosphate, an amide, an amine, and combinations thereof.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the non-polymeric organic enhancing agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, a glycerin monoester, a glycerin diester, ascorbic acid, urea, glycine, ammonium citrate, taurine, dipropylene glycol, aminosalicylic acid, sorbitol, lactic acid, and combinations thereof.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-polymeric organic enhancing agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, glycerin monoester, a glycerin diester, and combinations thereof.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the non-polymeric organic enhancing agent is present in an amount ranging from about 0.05 to about 0.1 percent of the weight of the superabsorbent material.
- 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the superabsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of fibers, particles, and combinations thereof.
- 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of combining the enhancing agent treated superabsorbent material with a fibrous material.
- 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the nonpolymeric enhancing agent onto the superabsorbent particles comprises the step of exposing the superabsorbent material to the enhancing agent as the superabsorbent material is combined with the fibrous material.
- 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of applying the nonpolymeric enhancing agent onto the superabsorbent material comprises applying the enhancing agent onto the superabsorbent material in the absence of the fibrous material, then combining the superabsorbent material treated with the enhancing agent with the fibrous material.
- 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancing agent is propylene glycol.
- 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancing agent is ethylene glycol.
- 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancing agent is butylene glycol.
- 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancing agent is trimethylene glycol.
- 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancing agent is dipropylene glycol.
- 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancing agent is lactic acid.
- 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancing agent is sorbitol.
- 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancing agent is a diol.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of the following U.S. patent applications, each of which was filed on Aug. 17, 1992, and each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference: (1) Ser. No. 07/931,059, entitled “POLYMERIC BINDERS FOR BINDING PARTICLES TO FIBERS”; (2) Ser. No. 07/931,277, entitled “NON-POLYMERIC ORGANIC BINDERS FOR BINDING PARTICLES TO FIBERS”; (3) Ser. No. 07/931,213, entitled “WET LAID FIBER SHEET MANUFACTURING WITH REACTIVATABLE BINDERS FOR BINDING PARTICLES TO BINDERS”; (4) Ser. No. 07/931,278, entitled “REACTIVATABLE BINDERS FOR BINDING PARTICLES TO FIBERS”; (5) Ser. No. 07/931,284, entitled “PARTICLE BINDERS FOR HIGH BULK FIBERS”; (6) Ser. No. 07/931,279, entitled “PARTICLE BINDERS THAT ENHANCE FIBER DENSIFICATION”; and the following U.S. patent applications, each of which was filed on Aug. 17, 1993: (7) Ser. No. 08/107,469, entitled PARTICLE BINDERS; (8) Ser. No. 08/108,219, entitled PARTICLE BINDING TO FIBERS; (9) Ser. No. 08/107,467, entitled BINDERS FOR BINDING WATER SOLUBLE PARTICLES TO FIBERS; (10) Ser. No. 08/108,217, entitled PARTICLE BINDERS; and (11) Ser. No. 08/108,218, entitled PARTICLE BINDING TO FIBERS; and a continuation application of Ser. No. 07/931,284 filed on Nov. 15, 1993 as Ser. No. ______.
Divisions (1)
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Continuations (2)
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Continuation in Parts (12)
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