Polymer that can absorb and retain extremely large amounts of a liquid relative to its own mass.
Notes: - The liquid absorbed can be water or an organic liquid.
- The swelling ratio of a superabsorbent polymer can reach the order of 1000:1.
- Superabsorbent polymers for water are frequently polyelectrolytes.
Source:
PAC, 2004, 76, 889. 'Definitions of terms relating to reactions of polymers and to functional polymeric materials (IUPAC Recommendations 2003)' on page 903 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200476040889)