Term: superabsorbent polymer
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.ST07195

Definition:
Polymer that can absorb and retain extremely large amounts of a liquid relative to its own mass.

Notes:
0) The liquid absorbed can be water or an organic liquid.
1) The swelling ratio of a superabsorbent polymer can reach the order of 1000:1.
2) 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)

Citation: 'superabsorbent polymer' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.ST07195

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