Abstract:
Disclosed is an absorbent foam that exhibits desirable softness and flexibility properties yet is highly absorbent. In one embodiment, the absorbent foam comprises a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer wherein the absorbent foam exhibits a Free Swell value of at least about 10 grams of liquid per gram of absorbent foam and a Softness value that is less than about 30 grams of force per gram per square meter of absorbent foam. In a second embodiment, the absorbent foam has an average cell size of the cells in the absorbent foam between about 10 microns to about 100 microns and an average wall thickness of the cells in the absorbent foam between about 0.1 micron to about 30 microns. Such an absorbent foam may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a process for preparing an absorbent foam. The process generally comprises forming a solution of a polymer in a solvent, freezing the solution at a relatively slow cooling rate to a temperature below the freezing point of the solvent, removing the solvent from the frozen solution, and recovering the polymer to form a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymeric foam. The process has been found to enable one to prepare an absorbent foam that exhibits desirable softness and flexibility properties yet is highly absorbent. Such an absorbent foam may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.
Abstract:
A method for preparing an oriented microporous shaped article is provided. The method comprises the steps of melt blending thermoplastic polymer with a solubilizing amount of a compatible liquid to form a homogeneous solution, forming a shaped article from the solution, cooling the shaped article at a rate and to a temperature sufficient to initiate thermodynamic, non-equilibrium liquid-liquid phase separation and then to solidify the thermoplastic polymer, stretching the article in a first direction sufficient to permanently attenuate the article and effect orientation of the polymer, and removing at least a substantial portion of the compatible liquid before or after the stretching step to form an oriented microporous shaped article.
Abstract:
A microporous particulate-filled thermoplastic polymeric article is provided. The article can be in the form of a film, a fiber, or a tube. The article has a thermoplastic polymeric structure having a plurality of interconnected passageways to provide a network of communicating pores. The microporous structure contains discrete submicron or low micron-sized particulate filler, the particulate filler being substantially non-agglomerated.
Abstract:
A microporous particulate-filled thermoplastic polymeric article is provided. The article can be in the form of a film, a fiber, or a tube. The article has a thermoplastic polymeric structure having a plurality of interconnected passageways to provide a network of communicating pores. The microporous structure contains discrete submicron or low micron-sized particulate filler, the particulate filler being substantially non-agglomerated.
Abstract:
A microporous article is provided. The article comprises a thermoplastic polymeric structure having a plurality of cells with adjacent cells being interconnected by passageways to provide a network of communicating pores. The structure is oriented in at least one direction.
Abstract:
A micro-porous membrane of ultra-high-molecular-weight alpha-olefin polymer having a weight-average molecular weight greater than 5.times.10.sup.5, the micro-porous membrane having through holes 0.01 to 1 micrometer in average pore size, with a void ratio from 30 to 90% and being oriented such that the linear draw ratio in one axis is greater than two and the areal draw ratio is greater than ten. The micro-porous membrane is obtained by forming a gel-like object from a solution of an alpha-olefin polymer having a weight-average molecular weight greater than 5.times.10.sup.5, removing at least 10 wt % of the solvent contained in the gel-like object so that the gel-like object contains 10 to 90 wt % of alpa-olefin polymer, orientating the gel-like object at a temperature lower than that which is 10.degree. C. above the melting point of the alpa-olefin polymer, and removing the residual solvent from the orientated product. A film is produced from the orientated product by pressing the orientated product at a temperature lower than that of the melting point of the alpha-olefin polymer.
Abstract:
Low density, microporous polymer foams are provided by a process which comprises forming a solution of polymer and a suitable solvent followed by rapid cooling of the solution to form a phase-separated system and freeze the phase-separated system. The phase-separated system comprises a polymer phase and a solvent phase, each of which is substantially continuous within the other. The morphology of the polymer phase prior to and subsequent to freezing determine the morphology of the resultant foam.Both isotropic and anisotropic foams can be produced. If isotropic foams are produced, the polymer and solvent are tailored such that the solution spontaneously phase-separates prior to the point at which any component freezes. The morphology of the resultant polymer phase determines the morphology of the resultant foam and the morphology of the polymer phase is retained by cooling the system at a rate sufficient to freeze one or both components of the system before a change in morphology can occur. Anisotropic foams are produced by forming a solution of polymer and solvent that will not phase separate prior to freezing of one or both components of the solution. In such a process, the solvent typically freezes before phase separation occurs. The morphology of the resultant frozen two-phase system determines the morphology of the resultant foam.The process involves subjecting the solution to essentially one-dimensional cooling. Means for subjecting such a solvent to one-dimensional cooling are also provided.Foams having a density of less than 0.1 g/cc and a uniform cell size of less than 10 .mu.m and a volume such that the foams have a length greater than 1 cm are provided.
Abstract:
Porous bodies, particularly membranes in the form of hollow filaments, are produced by heating a polymer above the upper critical temperature T.sub.c in a mixture of two compounds A and B, liquid and miscible at the dissolving temperature, whereby the employed mixture (polymer, compounds A and B) in liquid aggregate state displays a miscibility gap, the compound A is a solvent for the polymer and the compound B, which preferably is a non-solvent or a swelling agent for the polymer, raises the phase separation temperature of a solution composed of the polymer and compound A. After the dissociation, the components A and/or B if necessary are extracted. Through use of non-toxic substances such as e.g. edible oil as compound A and castor oil as compound B, bodies are obtained which are non-toxic and unobjectionable for use in medical areas and in the foods industry, among others.
Abstract:
A RESINOUS, MICROPOROUS, RETICULATED TRANSFER STRUCTURE FOR ABSORBING AND SUBSEQUENTLY EXPRESSING A PREDETERMINED MATERIAL, SUCH AS INK, CHARACTERIZED BY HAVING A PORE SIZE SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO ENABLE THE STRUCTURE TO BE REPEATEDLY RELOADED WITH THE MATERIAL AND YET SUFFICIENTLY SMALL TO AVOID OBJECTIONAL LEAKING AND EXUDATION OF THE MATERIAL.