Super-Absorbent Fabric: In Situ Polymerization of Macroporous Starch-Sodium Alginate Hydrogel on Fiber Surface

Abstract

Abstract Super-absorbent fabric provide a comfortable microenvironment for personal protective equipment. We prepared a super-absorbent and strong water retention fabric by in situ polymerization of starch-sodium alginate-polyacrylate (St-SA-PAA) hydrogel on the surface of polyester fabric. The pore size distribution of gel on fabric was 30~91 μm. Benefiting from the capillarity of polyester fiber, the water absorption rate of St-SA-PAA gel could be increased from 2.8 to 10 g/min, when it was deposited on fabric. The water absorption of super-absorbent fabric reached 343 g/g, which exceeded the reported super-absorbent fiber. Also, the supporting role of fiber improved the poor mechanical property of gel after water absorption. Interestingly, super-absorbent fabric had isotropic characteristic, and its water absorption and softness could be adjusted by controlling the amount of aerogel deposition, as well as its swelling behavior conformed to second-order kinetic. This work provides new approach for the development of comfortable damp-heat management fabrics.