| abstract |
A water soluble, substantially linear, polymer is made by copolymerisation of a water soluble blend of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising carboxylic acid monomers such as acrylic acid and a hydroxylic monomer of the formula CHR1=CR2-Y-M a-OH where R1 is hydrogen or carboxy, R2 is hydrogen, carboxy or methyl, Y is O, CH2O or COO, M is alkyleneoxy and a is at least 5. This polymer can be cross linked, generally after being shaped by extrusion or other shaping of an aqueous solution of the polymer, to form cross linkages between the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. The shaped elements can have high eater absorbency and can be in the form of, for instance, fibres or films. |