Johnson & Johnson Gmbh

Johnson & Johnson Patient Care, Inc.

John M Lesniak

Franklin Boardman

Anthony Evans

Wayne G Koci

James E McCann

The invention relates to absorbent compositions, to methods for handling and immobilizing particulate absorbents, and to absorbent articles produced from the absorbent compositions. Absorbent materials such as cross-linked, water-insoluble and water-swellable particulate polymers are immobilized and safely handled by adding thereto an aqueous liquid such as water or saline in amounts sufficient to form hydrates in which the water comprises from 20% to 80% by weight of the total hydrate. The hydrates may be extruded, sprinkled, or sprayed and can be incorporated into absorbent articles such as diapers and tampons by conventional means. The hydrates unexpectedly increase the total water absorbency of the absorbent on a dry basis.

Immobilizing particulate absorbents by conversion to hydrates

The present invention provides an acrylate superabsorbent composition having an improved rate of absorbency, low residual acid content, and a low acrylate monomer content. Acrylic acid, an alkali metal salt of carbonic acid, aluminum acetate, sodium sulfate and water are uniformly reacted preferably using microwave radiation as the heat source.

Superabsorbent composition and process

The instant invention relates to an orthopedic bandage which hardens by means of a free radical catalyzed polymerization reaction, wherein said reaction is initiated by an improved redox catalyst system, and an improved method for forming a cast from said orthopedic bandage. The bandage comprises a flexible carrier having a cast forming composition comprising a monomer (polymerizable by means of said improved redox catalyst system) supported thereon, which monomer may be a solid, water soluble vinyl monomer such as diacetone acrylamide (DAA), N isopropylacrylamide (N-IPA) or mixtures thereof. The improved catalyst system includes a copper salt in combination with a reducing agent such as ferrous sulfate, sodium sulfite, oxalic acid and the like. The preferred copper salt is cupric acetylacetonate. The polymerization of the above monomer may be initiated by contacting the cast forming composition with water, in the presence of said improved redox catalyst system, e.g. by dipping the bandage, including the improved redox catalyst system supported thereon, in tap water. In one embodiment of the invention, the bandage comprises the improved redox catalyst system in combination with the cast forming composition on the flexible carrier. This embodiment shows excellent storage stability, and can be sold as a single package system. Furthermore, the improved redox catalyst system, unlike the prior art redox catalysts used to initiate hardening of orthopedic bandages, provides a uniform rate of hardening even when initiated with tap waters having different impurities.

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Hazlet, NJ, United States of America

John M Lesniak