Synthesis of Biodegradable Superabsorbent Polymers via Cyclic Ketene Acetal Copolymerization
발표자
()
초록
내용
Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are functional hydrogels capable of absorbing water up to 100-1000 times their own mass without dissolving. SAPs find widespread applications in various fields, including hygiene products, food packaging, and ice packs. Typically, SAPs consist of polymers with hydrophilic functional groups, such as polyacrylic acid and polyacrylamide. However, their hydrocarbon main chain cannot be degradable and exhibits poor biocompatibility, leading to environmental concerns. To address this, we copolymerize the acrylic acid (AA) with a cyclic ketene acetal (CKA) monomer called 2-methylene-1,3,6-trioxocane (MTC), which introduces hydrolyzable ester groups into the main chain. The radical ring-opening polymerization of MTC is compatible with AA copolymerization in a favorable sequence. By adopting the highly hydrophilic MTC as CKA monomer, the synthesized SAPs achieve a high water absorption capacity of up to 676 g/g and degrade under basic conditions within a few hours.