Pore structure of superabsorbent polymers through image analysis

In this paper, an innovative method to study the structure of the porous superabsorbent polymers was studied. By using the Image J image processing software, the SEM pictures of the polymers were transformed into a binary sketch image. The structure parameters of the pores could also be calculated with the aid of the software. According to the principle of differential box counting, combined with the MATLAB programming, the fractal dimension of the porous superabsorbent polymers could be obtained through the binary sketch image. The calculated fractal dimension could be used to express the regularity of the complicated structure of the porous superabsorbent polymers. Via the above process, the influence of the pre-swelling time for the porous superabsorbent polymers, prepared through the cryogenic induced phase separation method, on the structure of the modified polymer was discussed.