Superabsorbents

Superabsorbers are generally defined as plastics that are capable of absorbing many times their own weight in liquids (e.g. water, liquid body secretions or similar). In this case, the subabsorber swells when absorbing the liquid. It forms a hydrogel. When the superabsorber swells, it forms a hydrogel.

Commonly used superabsorbents in hygiene preparations and in medical applications (e.g. dressing materials) are copolymers of acrylic acid or sodium acrylate (sodium salt of acrylic acid) and acrylamide. Polar polymers such as pure polyacrylic acid can bind large quantities of water (1000 times their mass).

Superabsorbents are used, for example, in baby diapers, sanitary towels, incontinence and wound care.