High‐temperature resistant superabsorbent based on poly(acrylic acid) with triallylammonium chloride as crosslinking agent

ABSTRACT A novel high‐temperature resistant superabsorbent was prepared by solution polymerization of partially neutralized acrylic acid (AA), using triallylammonium chloride as crosslinker, potassium persulfate as initiator. The factors that influence the water‐absorbing capacity at 25 and 200°C such as mass concentration of monomer, mass ratio of crosslinker to AA, mass ratio of initiator to AA, and neutralization degree were investigated. The structure of the superabsorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The optimum conditions were obtained and the swelling ratios in distilled water and 1 wt % of NaCl solution could reach 841 and 74 g/g at 300°C, respectively. The superabsorbent also showed high swelling rate and good salt resistance. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41243.