This article is about sodium polyacrylate.
Sodium polyacrylate belongs to superabsorbent polymers with the chemical formula [−CH2−CH(CO2K)−]n.
In functionality, it can absorb hundreds of times its weight water then turns to water gel form.
In the safety aspect, it's non-toxic, non-pollutant, and harmless. It's easy to find the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).
Basic info
| Appearance | white powder/particle (turn to transparent crystal after absorbing water) |
| Odor | imperceptible |
| CAS number | 9003-4-7 |
| Function | Absorbing, retaining, or to blocking liquid |
| Physical property | Non-toxic, harmless, non-polluting, natural degradation |
| Market price | USD 800-3000 per ton (updated in 2018) |
It consists of a set of polymeric chains that are parallel to each other and regularly linked to each other by cross-linking agents, thus forming a network.
When water comes into contact with one of these chains, it is drawn into the molecule by osmosis. Water rapidly migrates into the interior of the polymer network where it is stored.
Tip: Metal ions can deeply reduce or destroy the water-absorbing capacity of sodium polyacrylate.
There're many types of sodium polyacrylate for different uses, such as:
Sodium polyacrylate can
Here are the details:
water blocking, inflatable rubber, thickening agent, fire-retardant gel, desiccant agent, thermal storage agent.
concrete protection, anti-foggy agent.
waste liquid control, excreta collection.
drilling fluid, collection of tattoo liquid waste, oil-water separation.
pet pad, drown-free water source for feeder insects.
paper diapers, sanitary napkins, nursing mat, contact lenses.
the ice pack, fragrance carrier, water beads, growing toys, cosmetics, solid waterbed.
cable, urine bag, anti-flood bag, instant snow, waterproof paint.
It's safe to eat it.
The pharmaceutical-grade sodium polyacrylate is totally nontoxic. As a safe water gel material, it can be even used in body implants such as artificial vitreum and artificial skin.
For other grade sodium polyacrylates, the only poisonous substance is acrylic acid. Its content is less than 1000 PPM and won't be harmful when to eat.
But as a highly absorbent material, it would bring stomach discomfort to eat sodium polyacrylate.
Safe but not recommend.
Sodium polyacrylate would be decomposed into Sodium ions which cause soil salinization.
Sodium polyacrylate can be used everywhere. We can easily get it from paper diapers, sanitary towels,s or nursing pads.
Yes. It can be reused indefinitely. But it's important to avoid direct sunlight and high temperature.
It can be used as:
a. water-retaining agent (for plants);
b. water-absorbent material (for diapers);
c. expanding material (for inflatable toys);
d. thickener (for cosmetics);
e. water blocking material (inflatable sandbag);
f. cooling storage (ice pad).
It's polymerized by Sodium acrylate (which made by sodium hydroxide and acrylic acid).
The production process is:
a. sodium hydroxide + acrylic acid -> sodium polyacrylate (semi-finished);
b. sodium polyacrylate (semi-finished) -> drying -> smashing -> sift out -> sodium polyacrylate.