OASIS SAF®

Technical Absorbents Ltd (TAL) manufactures the OASIS Super Absorbent Fibre (OASIS SAF®) using the most state-of-the-art production methods and control protocols available. This allows TAL to offer the markets an extremely high performance and versatile OASIS SAF® absorbency product portfolio.

Manufacturing

Water is the solvent used for all of the raw materials required to produce OASIS SAF®. An extremely high conversion rate of the raw materials to polymer is achieved. The aqueous polymer solution is extruded into a hot air stream to dry and cure the polymer, producing filaments of OASIS SAF® which are insoluble in water. Moisture may be added to the fibres to aid processing. The filaments are precision cut into a range of staple lengths.

OASIS SAF® is the next generation in the development of Super Absorbent technology. The OASIS Super Absorbent technology can be produced as a staple fibre (OASIS SAF®) of various lengths, denier and absorbencies, as a filament yarn (OASIS-FIL) or as a polymer solution (OASIS-PS).

The OASIS SAF® has the appearance and improved handling characteristics of a textile fibre whilst offering the possibility of producing very soft handle fabrics. It is white, odourless and has a very similar chemistry to Absorbent Granular Materials (AGM). Compared with such granular absorbents, OASIS SAF® offers benefits in ease of handling, containment and processing routes available.

Chemistry

OASIS SAF® is a cross-linked terpolymer of acrylic acid (AA), methylacrylate (MA) and a small quantity of a special acrylate/methacrylate monomer (SAMM), in which the acrylic acid is partially neutralised to the sodium salt of acrylic acid (AANa). The cross-links between polymer chains are formed as ester groups by reaction between the acid groups in acrylic acid and the hydroxyl groups in the acrylate/methacrylate monomer.

where:

• -AA- = {-CH2CH(COOH)-} from acrylic acid
• -AANa- = {-CH2CH(COONa)-} from acrylic acid and caustic soda
• -MA- = {-CH2CH(COOCH3)-} from methyl acrylate
• R = -COOCH2CH(CH3)-

The values of W, X, Y & Z depend on the quantities of raw materials used and α and β on the amount of heat treatment received.

Physical Properties

OASIS SAF® does not melt. It begins to decompose very slowly at temperatures >200°C.Glass Transition Temperature - not measurable. Fibre Density is approximately 1.4 g/ml.

General Absorbency Performance

OASIS SAF® gives significantly higher rates of saline and water uptake compared to typical Absorbent Granular Materials (AGM). As a fibrous material, OASIS SAF® allows for uniform distribution of absorbency performance within fabric, due to the ease and efficacy of fabric production.

Health & Safety

The polyacrylate super absorbent chemistry, on which OASIS SAF® is based, has been extensively tested to establish its safe for use status in application areas requiring a high degree of toxicity and regulatory approval. These studies include allergenicity, irritation, dermal, genetic, reproductive and ingestion research.