Two-phase compositions
View Patent ↗Disclosed is a composition comprising a hydrophobic polymer phase and a water-swollen superabsorbent polymer phase. Also disclosed is a two component system for preparing a composition comprising a hydrophobic polymer phase and a water-swollen superabsorbent polymer phase. The first component is an emulsion of the hydrophobic polymer; the second component comprises the superabsorbent polymer; and the first and second components form the composition when mixed.
1. A composition comprising a hydrophobic polymer phase and a water-swollen superabsorbent polymer phase, wherein the composition is substantially free of cement when the superabsorbent polymer is cationic, wherein the hydrophobic polymer phase comprises a hydrophobic polymer dissolved in an oil or plasticizer, wherein the superabsorbent polymer is starch containing grafted side chains of 2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid or an alkali metal salt thereof and wherein the composition is substantially free of water from a bodily fluid.
2. A kit, wherein the first container contains an emulsion of a hydrophobic polymer, the second container contains a composition comprising a superabsorbent polymer, and wherein the emulsion of the hydrophobic polymer and the composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer form a composition comprising a hydrophobic polymer phase and a water-swollen superabsorbent phase when mixed.
3. The kit of claim 2 wherein the second container contains a composition consisting of the superabsorbent polymer.
4. The kit of claim 2 wherein the composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer is a dispersion of the superabsorbent polymer in an oil or a plasticizer.
5. A kit comprising a first container and a second container, wherein the first container contains an emulsion of a hydrophobic polymer, the second container contains a dispersion of a superabsorbent polymer in an oil or a plasticizer, wherein the oil or plasticizer additionally comprises a cross-linking agent for cross-linking the hydrophobic polymer and wherein the the emulsion of the hydrophobic polymer and the dispersion of the superabsorbent polymer form a composition comprising a hydrophobic polymer phase and a superabsorbent polymer phase when mixed.
6. The kit claim 2 wherein the hydrophobic polymer phase is at least 30% by weight of the composition formed after mixing the the emulsion of the hydrophobic polymer and the composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer.
7. A kit comprising a first container and a second container, wherein the first container contains an emulsion of a hydrophobic polymer, the second container contains a composition comprising a superabsorbent polymer, wherein the superabsorbent polymer comprises acidic or basic functional groups, wherein the superabsorbent polymer becomes superabsorbent after being neutralized or can absorb at least two times as much water after being neutralized than before being neutralized, and the the emulsion of the hydrophobic polymer and the composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer form a composition comprising a hydrophobic polymer phase and a superabsorbent polymer phase when mixed.
8. The kit of claim 7 wherein the composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer is an aqueous dispersion of the superabsorbent polymer and wherein the aqueous dispersion has a pH at which the polymer is non-superabsorbing or pre-water swollen.
9. The kit of claim 2 wherein the superabsorbent polymer is a maleic anhydride/vinyl ether copolymer, poly(acrylic acid), copolymers of poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), copolymers of poly(methacrylic acid), starch modified polyacrylic acid or alkali metal salt thereof.
10. The kit of claim 9 wherein the superabsorbent polymer is starch containing grafted side chains of 2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid or an alkali metal salt thereof.
11. The kit of claim 2 wherein the hydrophobic polymer is natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber or acrylic.
12. The kit of claim 2 wherein the emulsion of the hydrophobic polymer or the the composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer additionally comprises one or more components selected from a reinforcing filler, a non-reinforcing filler, a pigment, a surfactant, an antioxidant, a UV stabilizer, a fiber, a mold release agent, a lubricant, a void, a tackifier, a coagulant, a coascervant for emulsions, biocide, coalescing agent or an organic solvent.
13. A method of preparing a composition comprising a hydrophobic polymer phase and a water-swollen superabsorbent polymer phase, said method comprising the step of mixing an emulsion of a hydrophobic polymer and a composition comprising a superabsorbent polymer.
14. The method of claim 13 said method comprising the step of mixing an emulsion of a hydrophobic polymer phase and a composition consisting of the superabsorbent polymer.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer is a dispersion of the superabsorbent polymer in an oil or plasticizer.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the the dispersion of the superabsorbent polymer additionally comprises a cross-linking agent for the hydrophobic polymer and wherein the emulsion of the hydrophobic polymer and the composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer are mixed under conditions suitable for cross-linking the hydrophobic polymer, thereby forming the composition and cross-linking the hydrophobic polymer.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein the superabsorbent polymer comprises acidic or basic functional groups and becomes superabsorbent or increases its water absorbing capacity when neutralized, wherein the composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer is at a pH such that the superabsorbent polymer is non-superabsorbing or pre-water-swollen and wherein the mixture is at or adjusted to a pH such that the superabsorbent polymer is neutralized.
18. The method of claim 13 wherein the superabsorbent polymer is a polymer or copolymer of acrylic acid, a polymer or copolymer of maleic anhydride, a starch modified acrylic acid or a alkali metal salt thereof.
19. The method of claim 13 wherein the hydrophobic polymer phase comprises at least 30% by weight of the composition formed after mixing the first and second components.
20. The method of claim 13 wherein the superabsorbent polymer is a maleic anhydride/vinyl ether copolymer, poly(acrylic acid), copolymers of poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), copolymers of poly(methacrylic acid), starch modified polyacrylic acid or alkali metal salt thereof.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the superabsorbent polymer is starch containing grafted side chains of 2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid or an alkali metal salt thereof.
22. The method of claim 13 wherein the hydrophobic polymer is natural rubber, styrene modified butadiene or acrylic.
23. The method of claim 13 wherein the emulsion of the hydrophobic polymer or the composition comprising the superabsorbent polymer additionally comprises one or more components selected from a reinforcing filler, a non-reinforcing filler, a pigment, a surfactant, an antioxidant, a UV stabilizer, a fiber, a mold release agent, a lubricant, a void, a coagulant, a coascervant for emulsions, biocide, coalescing agent, or an organic solvent.
24. A method of preparing a composition comprising a hydrophobic polymer phase and a water-swollen superabsorbent polymer phase from an aqueous emulsion comprising a hydrophobic polymer and a polymer which becomes superabsorbing or water-swellable above or below a threshold temperature, wherein the emulsion is at a temperature at which the polymer is non-superabsorbing or pre-water swellable said method comprising the step of adjusting the temperature of the emulsion such that the polymer becomes superabsorbing or water swellable.
25. The kit of claim 2 wherein the kit is a package.