초록

Polymer particles are irradiated with radiation from a high energy source to increase the water or other fluid absorbency of the particles. Products manufactured using the activated particles include protective undergarments, bandages, kitty litter, and spill clean up materials.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An article of manufacture created by the process of irradiating polymer particles with radiation from a high energy source under conditions that open multiple covalent bonds on at least some surfaces of at least some of the particles by a length of at least one angstrom. 2.

What is claimed is: 1. An article of manufacture created by the process of irradiating polymer particles with radiation from a high energy source under conditions that open multiple covalent bonds on at least some surfaces of at least some of the particles by a length of at least one angstrom. 2. The article of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises a starch. 3. The article of claim 1, wherein the particles have an average mean diameter of no more than 5 mm. 4. The article of claim 1, wherein the particles have an average mean diameter of more than 5 mm. 5. The article of claim 1, wherein the high energy source comprises a plasma. 6. The article of claim 5, wherein the plasma comprises an inductive plasma. 7. The article of claim 5, wherein the plasma comprises a capacitive plasma 8. The article of claim 5, wherein the plasma comprises combination of inductive and capacitive plasmas. 9. The article of claim 5, wherein the plasma comprises an argon plasma. 10. The article of claim 5 wherein the plasma comprises RF plasma. 11. A protective undergarment comprising the irradiated particles of claim 1. 12. A bandage comprising the irradiated particles of claim 1. 13. A kitty litter comprising the irradiated particles of claim 1. 14. A package of irradiated particles of claim 1, labeled for use as spill clean up materials. 15. A drug delivery vehicle comprising the irradiated particles of claim 1. 16. A process of increasing the water absorbency of a polymer, comprising: providing the polymer in particle form; subjecting the particles to a plasma under conditions that opens multiple covalent bonds on a least some surfaces of at least some of the particles by a length of at least one angstrom. 17. The process of claim 16 wherein the polymer comprises starch. 18. The article of claim 16, wherein the particles have an average mean diameter of no more than 5 mm. 19. The article of claim 16, wherein the particles have an average mean diameter of more than 5 mm. 20. The article of claim 16, wherein the polymer comprises a cellulose.