| abstract |
An absorbent, microporous foam comprising a crosslinked polymer having interconnected fluid cells distributed throughout its mass, wherein the fluid cells have a diameter of between about 0.1 and about 100 mu m, and wherein the foam can rapidly absorb at least about twice its dry weight in fluid, is disclosed. A method for producing a microporous, absorbent foam is also disclosed. This method comprises the steps of: (a) mixing a cross-linkable polymer and a first solvent to form a stable solution, wherein the stable solution can be induced to phase separate; (b) inducing the stable solution to phase separate into a polymer-concentrated phase and a polymer-dilute phase after a predetermined period of time; (c) inducing crosslinking of said polymer, so that the polymer will crosslink in said concentrated phase for a predetermined period of time during phase separation to thereby form a microporous material; and (d) drying the microporous material to produce the absorbent foam. |