| abstract |
A process for preparing high internal phase emulsions (HIPE) that can be polymerized to provide flexible, microporous, open-celled polymeric foam materials capable of absorbing aqueous fluids, especially aqueous body fluids such as urine. The HIPE is prepared using certain polyglycerol aliphatic ether emulsifiers that are less chemically complex and variable in composition than many prior HIPE emulsifiers, have higher levels of the desired interfacially active components, and have lower levels of components (e.g., sludge) that are insoluble or insufficiently soluble in the oil phase used to prepare the HIPE. These polyglycerol aliphatic ether emulsifiers provide HIPE having relatively uniform sized water droplets dispersed in the continuous oil phase. |