Microwave assisted synthesis of guar gum grafted sodium acrylate/cloisite superabsorbent nanocomposites: reaction parameters and swelling characteristics.

In this study, superabsorbent nanocomposites of guar gum grafted sodium acrylate have been synthesized via both microwave and conventional techniques. The reaction parameters of both techniques were optimized and the microwave assisted method was proved to have higher grafting yield with lesser time of reaction as compared to the conventional method. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed that cloisite was exfoliated and uniformly dispersed in guar gum grafted sodium acrylate matrix.