MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURES AND SOME PROPERTIES OF SUPER WATER-ABSORBENTS OF HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE GRAFT COPOLYMERS

Abstract

The microscopic structures of the graft copolymers of hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) containing partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (P-Hyd-PAM) or poly (methyl acrylate) (P-Hyd-PMA) and poly (2-dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate) (PDM) synthesized as super water-absorbents and those of their gels were examined. The surfaces of HEC-P-Hyd-PAM, HEC-PDM and their gels were composed of granular and network structures, respectively, whereas those of HEC-P-Hyd-PMA and its gel were composed of a rod-like structure and an aggregate structure, respectively. The relation between their structures and some properties was examined.