The Transport of Water in Wet-Formed Networks of Cellulose Fibers and Powdered Superabsorbent
Keywords:
Wicking, absorbency, superabsorbents, fiber swelling, Lucas-Washburn theory, gel blockingAbstract
The wicking behavior of water into wet-formed paper strips consisting of cellulose fibers and varying proportions of powdered carboxymethyl cellulose superabsorbent is investigated and contrasted with the performance of similar composites made with the superabsorbent in fiber form. The degree of pore blocking caused by the swelling of the powdered superabsorbent is found to be significantly greater than that produced by the fibrous form, at the same superabsorbent loading.References
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