Superabsorbent Polymers: From Diapers to Crops of the Future

18 pages, published in Issue 65, 2nd quarter 2006   Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00

Superabsorbent polymers, generally referred to as SAPs, have the ability to absorb and store many times their own weight of aqueous liquids. For this reason, they have been widely employed in the disposable hygiene sector�in diapers, feminine care items and adult incontinence products.

SAPs are barely 25 years old. They were first introduced commercially into the hygiene market by Japan�s Unicharm in 1982 and were adopted in the mid-1980s by the brands of major Western consumer product companies such as Procter & Gamble and Kimberly Clark.

Today, the bulk of global SAP production, by far, is being swallowed up by the nonwoven disposable hygiene products industry. But small quantities of SAPs are also being used in other fields�especially in advancing the growth of crops, where there is vast potential for future growth.

SAPs are also being employed in other applications�including food packaging, the protection of cables from water damage, and firefighting aids.

Superabsorbent fibres (SAFs)�which are made from SAPs�are being produced by the UK company Technical Absorbents, based on technology originally developed by Courtaulds. SAFs have many niche technical uses in yarn and fabric form, including food packaging, medical fabrics and power cable yarns.

Buy this Report now	Buy this Issue (65) now	Subscribe

• The world nonwovens industry: part 3 -- ten smaller producers, 1st quarter 2007, (1st quarter 2007)
• Technical Textiles Business Update, (4th quarter 2006)
• The world nonwovens industry: part 1 -- the leading ten producers, 3rd quarter 2006, (3rd quarter 2006)
• Innovations in Fibres, Technical Textiles, Functional Apparel, and Machinery, (3rd-4th quarters 2003)

Technical Textile Markets provides intelligence, analysis and insight on the global man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile industries.

What's in it? Each issue contains data and expert analysis on key industry topics, including: automotive technical textiles; biopolymers; chemical protective textiles; circularity; composites; e-textiles; environmental sustainability; filter media; flame resistant fabrics; glass fibre; graphene; Industry 4.0; insulation; medical textiles; military textiles; nonwoven specialities; personal protective equipment (PPE); synthetic fibre; and wearable technology. A single issue of Technical Textile Markets includes: an editorial think-piece on a topical issue from an industry expert a report on the latest product developments and innovations a profile of the world's top producers of nonwovens a main feature on a new or established market a round-up of the latest business news statistical data and analysis of fibre and fabric production in a key geographical market An annual subscription to Technical Textile Markets is a cost-effective way to keep informed about trends and developments in the global man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile industries. Subscriptions are available in printed and/or digital formats. Printed and digital subscribers receive each issue in printed format in addition to a digital PDF file, which is available immediately on publication. Subscribers also receive a complementary digital subscription to Technical Textiles Business Update, delivered directly by email once a month. This free supplement contains essential information on business news and the latest product developments. Like all Textiles Intelligence publications, Technical Textile Markets is a reliable source of independently sourced business information, and it does not carry advertising. This is what our customers say: "We are indeed impressed with the quality of the information contained in your reports." (Miguel ARISTIZÁBAL; Marketing Support & Foreign Trade Affairs; Enka de Colombia S.A.)