WATER LOCK Superabsorbent Polymers

WATER LOCK is the registered trademark for a family of superabsorbent polymers produced by Grain Processing Corporation of Muscatine, IA.

By definition, a superabsorbent polymer must absorb a minimum of 20 times its own weight in water. WATER LOCK superabsorbent polymers far exceed that value. Moreover, the polymer must retain its original identity and have sufficient physical integrity to resist flow and fusion with neighboring particles, and to swell to equilibrium volume and not dissolve.

WATER LOCK superabsorbent polymers fall into two classifications:

1. Starch Graft Copolymers: Starch Graft Poly (2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid) available as the sodium or potassium salt.

2. Homopolymer: Poly (2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid, sodium salt)

The copolymer and homopolymer are off-white to tan, free-flowing powders, which absorb or immobilize large volumes of aqueous solutions at neutral or alkaline pH, including body fluids.

WATER LOCK superabsorbent polymers are manufactured by hydrolyzing a starch 2-propenenitrile graft copolymer or the starch-free homopolymer to the corresponding propenamide/propenoic acid salt copolymer. Variations in polymerization and hydrolysis chemistry and other treatments produce products with different characteristics for different applications.

WATER LOCK superabsorbent polymers are available in several forms.

Basic WATER LOCK Product Families

Code	Differences from A-100 Type
A-100 series	Base starch graft copolymer
A-200 series	Higher absorbency than A-100 series, but similar product

Specialty WATER LOCK Products

B-204 series	Potassium salt
C-200	Clear gel
D-223 series	Fast uptake, lighter color
G-400 series	High uptake, no starch

Grain Processing Corporation, 1600 Oregon Street, Muscatine, IA 52761. Tel: 563-264-4265; Fax: 563-264-4289.