abstract |
Methods of producing particulate, absorbent, polymeric compositions comprising interparticle crosslinked aggregates. In the methods of the present invention, an interparticle crosslinking agent is applied onto precursor particles; the precursor particles are physically associated to form a multiplicity of aggregates; and the interparticle crosslinking agent is reacted with the polymer material of the precursor particles of the aggregates, while maintaining the physical association of the precursor particles, to form crosslink bonds between the precursor particles to form interparticle crosslinked aggregates. The interparticle crosslinked aggregates are formed to such an extent that the mass average particle size of the polymeric composition is at least about 25 % greater than the mass average particle size of the precursor particles. |