Superabsorbent resins can absorb water hundreds or thousands of times their weight due to their hydrophilic polymer chains, which attract water. Their cross-linked structure allows them to swell without dissolving, while ionic interactions and capillary action further enhance water absorption. This makes them ideal for products like diapers and medical dressings.
Superabsorbent resins (Superabsorbent Polymers, SAPs) owe their ability to absorb water hundreds or even thousands of times their weight to chemical properties in their polymer structures. The cross-links in the SAP structure provide elasticity that allows swelling. This elasticity prevents the polymer from dissolving and allows it to swell only, allowing the polymer to allocate much more of its volume to water.