*This article is about all the sodium polyacrylates.
Sodium polyacrylates
Sodium polyacrylate is one of the superabsorbent polymers. It has a strong water-absorbent ability and can be used everywhere - you can easily get this amazing material from a baby diaper.
Now let's talk about it.
Basic info
| Appearance | White powder/particle |
| Odor | Imperceptible |
| Chemical formula | (C3H3NaO2)n |
| CAS number | 9003-4-7 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.118.171 |
| Function | Absorbing, retaining, or blocking liquid |
| Physical property | Non-toxic, harmless |
| Environment impact | Nonpolluting (natural degradation) |
| Market price | USD 800-1600 per ton （update in 2018） |
Absorbing process
When meets water, sodium polyacrylate would absorb water quickly. After dozens of seconds later, sodium polyacrylate would turn to water gel form which locksmith the water firmly.
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Functions
According to different applications, sodium polyacrylate can be used to:
- block water; (in cable-layers)
- absorb water; (in diapers)
- be the gel material; (in aromatics)
- be the refrigerant gel; (in ice packs)
- produce expanding rubber. (in growing toys)
- and so on.
To adjust the catalyzer, production process, and after treatment, we can also get different sodium polyacrylates for different uses:
- starch-based type: biodegradable;
- catalyst improved type: high expansibility;
- cation type: for concrete protection;
- and so on.
Uses
Animals
Pet pad, Solid water source (for feeder insects).
Personal care
Paper diaper, Sanitary Napkin, Nursing mat, Contact lenses.
Building
Concrete protection, Anti-foggy agent, Waterproof paint.
Environment
Waste liquid control, Excreta collection.
Industry
Water blocking agent, Inflatable rubber, Thickening agent, Fire-retardant gel, Desiccant agent, Thermal storage agent.
Production
The ice pack, Aromatic, Water beads, Growing toys, Cosmetics, Solid waterbed.
Things you may be interested in
1. What's the important parameter to measure its quality?
It's up to the uses, for example, the sodium polyacrylate :
For hygiene products (such as baby diapers, sanitary towels, nursing pads, etc.)
- Absorbent rate;
- Absorption under pressure and retention capacity after centrifugation;
- Liquid Permeability;
- Residual Monomer.
For cables (to stop water into inside)
- Expansion ability;
- Granular size.
For ice pack
- anti-hydration ability;
- Granular size;
For inflatable sandbag
- The photolysis resistance ability;
- Absorbent rate;
2. Is sodium polyacrylate toxic?
So far, sodium polyacrylate doesn’t have any side effects.
And according to various material safety data sheets (documents created by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration that list potential hazards of chemicals in great detail), sodium polyacrylate is safe.