Super absorbent polymer is abbreviated as SAP, also written as superabsorbent polymer.
SAP (super absorbent polymer) is a functional polymer material. It can absorb water up to several hundred times its own weight.
History
The origins of superabsorbent polymer chemistry trace back to the early 1960s when the U.S. Department of Agriculture developed the preferably superabsorbent polymer materials.
SAP is a general term for super absorbent polymers, and different types of SAP have different chemical compositions.
Common chemical components
The superabsorbent polymer is usually sodium polyacrylate produced by polymerizing sodium hydroxide and acrylic acid.
Superabsorbent polymers have large differences in various indicators such as water absorption speed, water absorption capacity, and centrifuge water retention rate, which are realized by changing their composition and production process.
For example, in order to meet the needs of agriculture, the raw material is changed from sodium hydroxide to potassium hydroxide, so that the product forms a potassium polyacrylate type water-absorbent resin. This not only prevents the risk of soil salinization caused by its decomposition product sodium ions, but also increases the content of potassium in the soil.
To sum up, the super absorbent polymer is not equal to sodium polyacrylate. It can be sodium polyacrylate or potassium polyacrylate, and it can also refer to various grafted absorbent polymers, such as those specially used for biological Starch-grafted water-absorbing polymers for degradation purposes.
In this chapter we will talk about the classification of superabsorbent polymers.
The classification will be according to the following dimensions: chemical composition and quality.
As we all know, SAP is a general term for water-absorbent polymers. In addition to the most common sodium polyacrylate, it also includes potassium polyacrylate and grafted SAP.
Improved SAP – Improved on some sides like:
SAP is mainly divided into two classes:
And here are the important points on main usages.
It is a material that absorbs water quickly and in large quantities and then turns into a hydrogel.
This chapter will introduce the use of superabsorbent polymers.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, a superabsorbent polymer is a material that absorbs water quickly and in large quantities, and then turns into a hydrogel. Taking advantage of its characteristics, we try to classify its uses as follows:
There are so many uses of superabsorbent polymers that we cannot list them all in this article, so this article only lists some of their commonly used uses and does not introduce them in detail. If you want to study its use in detail, you can visit the following link
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, a superabsorbent polymer is a material that absorbs water quickly and in large quantities, and then turns into a hydrogel. Taking advantage of its characteristics, we try to classify its uses as follows:
There are so many uses of superabsorbent polymers that we cannot list them all in this article, so this article only lists some of their commonly used uses and does not introduce them in detail. If you want to study its use in detail, you can visit the following link
Usually, the hydrogel formed after the superabsorbent polymer absorbs water can firmly hold the water and no longer let the water escape from the hydrogel. But we can set the osmotic pressure of the superabsorbent polymer hydrogel to be lower than the water absorption osmotic pressure of plant roots by processing.
In this way, we get a very, very magical "mini reservoir in the soil", which can:
As the type of superabsorbent polymer for plants, it is a unique superabsorbent granule, which acts to provide increased moisture availability to plants.
Agriculture grade SAP ( potassium polyacrylate ) can be widely used in agriculture, forestry, and gardening, such as soil water retention agent, seed coating, soil-less cultivation, artificial turf, etc.
Important indicators are as follows,
Application Ways
For example, in the farming of rain-fed sugar cane, significant increases in yield of approx. 25% are observed.
SAP in the form of the hydrogel may be placed in sealed plastic pouches. Once frozen, the pouches are often used in the transport of heat-sensitive plant products such as cut flowers. The hydrogel has excellent resistance to heat shock and does not leak after thawing.
The other advantage of SAP is that it prevents cellulose mulch from becoming hardpan during a dry spell. The mulch remains aerated and allows the seeds to sprout quickly. SAP also makes it possible to reduce the amount of mulch.
With each passing day, SAP is being employed in more and more industries and applications due to its increasing popularity and efficiency in water deterrence.
Some applications are as follows,
In fact, the application of superabsorbent polymers on plants accounts for only a small part of its use. More than 90% of super absorbent polymers are used in sanitary products such as diapers and sanitary napkins as absorbent materials.
With its awesome properties of liquid absorption and locking it has found very useful applications in products prone to moisture like:
In the use of sanitary products, the product parameters of SAP are different from those of plant use.
Important indicators are as follows,
Not only can SAP quickly absorb water, but the gel formed after absorbing water can effectively block water. So it also occupies a place in many water-blocking materials.
SAP is a highly coveted product as far as the manufacture of water-proof tapes and ointments for all sorts of cables are concerned; even, optical fiber cables use SAP. The extent and the speed of absorption are quite high and so are the overall inflation rate and its quantum of inflation upon encountering water.
Important indicators are as follows,
Used in Cable
Used in water-blocking tape
Compared with ordinary ice packs, the ice packs produced by SAP have many advantages, such as soft texture, quick ice crystal formation, and prevention of water overflow.
Freshwater is directed at the individual sheets of ice packs to activate them; Superabsorbent Polymer instantly starts absorbing the water and converting it to a Gel by placing them under fresh tap water; in about 20 minutes time it is seen to soak up enough water to form small cushion-shaped Ice Cubes. They are now ready for use by placing them in the freezer.
Important indicators are as follows,
SAP has this unique application in Disaster Management where it is used in preparing sandbags which, when coming in contact with water, quickly absorb it and expand to form a barrier to the advancing water. Though we call them Sandbags, they actually do not contain any sand; they are so-called because that is how they have been known traditionally.
These Sand-less Sandbags are quite small in size and light in weight initially but they soak up the water to assume a solid shape. They are much easier to store and transport and take up lesser space when unused.
Important indicators are as follows,
Concrete needs to absorb water continuously during the setting process, otherwise it will dry out and damage the appearance and firmness. After properly adding the specially formulated SAP when mixing concrete, the SAP hydrogel can buffer the expansion difference during the concrete solidification process, effectively preventing the concrete from cracking.
SAP is a cost-saving alternative to other bulk solidifiers, including Portland cement, kiln dust, corn-cobs, sawdust, or other commodity absorbents.
The unique characteristic of SAP is its ability to absorb water or organic fluids, reject oil, and resist bio-degradation while retaining liquid under pressure. This makes it an ideal stabilizing medium for waste disposal in landfills.
Industrial waste streams vary by salinity, temperature, and chemical composition, so it’s necessary to offer multiple grades of polymer to match the economic and performance requirements for each industrial solidification project.
Advantages
In oil or gas well drilling, lost circulation occurs when drilling fluid, known commonly as “mud”, flows into one or more geological formations instead of returning up the annulus. Lost circulation can be a serious problem during the drilling of an oil well or gas well.
SAP Drilling Mud Additive which is a new environmental protection product with good water-absorbable and swellable properties, can effectively against lost circulation.
What is lost circulation?
In oil or gas well drilling, lost circulation occurs when drilling fluid, known commonly as “mud”, flows into one or more geological formations instead of returning up the annulus. Lost circulation can be a serious problem during the drilling of an oil well or gas well.
Consequences
1. Blowout
If the amount of fluid in the wellbore drops due to lost circulation (or any other reason), hydrostatic pressure is reduced, which can allow gas or fluid which is under higher pressure than the reduced hydrostatic pressure to flow into the wellbore. An influx of gas or fluid into the wellbore, known as a” kick”, can lead to a blowout.
2. Dry Drilling
Dry drilling occurs when fluid is completely lost from the wellbore without actual drilling coming to a stop. The effects of dry drilling range from as minor as destroying a bit too as serious as major damage to the wellbore requiring a new well to be drilled. Dry drilling can also cause severe damage to the drill string, including snapping the pipe, and the drilling rig itself.
The Traditional Solution to lost circulation
There are some options are available when lost circulation occurs, depending on the severity: Increasing the viscosity of the fluid with bentonite or with the addition of other additives, which typically include organic plant particles.
SAP Drilling Mud Additive – A better solution for lost circulation
It is a new environmental protection material with good water-absorbable, thickening property and swellable properties, which can effectively against lost circulation.
It finds extensive usage in a number of species of products due to its amazing properties; some of them may be listed here:
Due to its awesome capacity to act on moisture, SAP (Superabsorbent Polymer) is finding newer purposes for which it is being employed.