Synthesis and characterization of acrylic‐based superabsorbents

This paper is devoted to the synthesis and characterization of superabsorbent polymers based on acrylic acid. These hydrogels were prepared by carrying the inverse suspension polymerization in an aromatic hydrocarbon. The dispersion is stabilized by the mixture of micromolecular and macromolecular emulsifiers. To obtain high swelling and appropriate absorption kinetics, parameters such as initial monomer and cross‐linker concentration, range of neutralization, monomer addition rate, temperature, initiating system, stabilizing system, and nature of the organic phase were studied but not reviewed here. Thus, based on these topics a basic formula is obtained to display the effect of some structural parameters on behaviour of superabsorbents utilized. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.