Yj. Kim et al., Preparation and properties of alginate superabsorbent filament fibers crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, J APPL POLY, 78(10), 2000, pp. 1797-1804
Superabsorbent filament fibers based on sodium alginate were prepared using
glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent. Alginate was extruded into an aque
ous hydrochloric acid coagulation bath to form continuous alginic acid gel
fibers via a wet-spinning method. The alginic acid gel fibers were dehydrat
ed by exchanging water with dioxane, crosslinked, then neutralized for bett
er absorbency. Crosslinked alginate filaments exhibited a high saline solut
ion and synthetic urine absorbencies, maintaining the integrity of the fibe
r structure. Maximum synthetic urine absorbency was obtained with the fiber
crosslinked at a lower glutaraldehyde concentration compared with that req
uired for maximum saline solution absorbency. This appears to be due to the
crosslinking effect of calcium ions in the synthetic urine solution being
absorbed. Strain and tenacity of the crosslinked alginate fibers decreased
with an increasing amount of glutaraldehyde used in the crosslinking reacti
on. The decrease in tenacity was not significant while the strain showed an
extensive decrease. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.