What In The World Is SodiumPolyacrylate?
By:Parker

What mysterious crystalline polymer absorbs many times its size and a forms a polymeric gel? Sodium Polyacrylate!  Even though you may not have heard of it before, you probably have used an item with sodium polyacylate in it.  Especially when you were a baby!  What item for babies has sodium polyacrylate in it?  Find out here!

FAQs
 

What exactly is Sodium Polyacrylate? Sodium polyacrylate powder is a super absorbent polymer, meaning that it consists of chains of identical units known as monomers.  When water is added to the white crystalline  polymer, it absorb many times its size, and a polymeric gel forms.  In the absorbing process, the gel that is formed swells. What is it used for? Sodium polyacrylate is  used in diapers, food, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agricultural products, chemicals, packaging, and paint industries. How does it absorb water or other liquids? When the sodium polyacrylate is immersed in water, there is higher concentration of water outside the polymer. When water approaches the sodium polyacrylate molecule, it is drawn to the center of the molecule by osmosis.  The polymer absorbs excessive amounts of water due to the osmatic pressure (the movement of water through a membrane pemeable only to water). The sodium polyacrylate absorbs water until there  is an equal concentration of water inside and outside. What are its characteristics? Sodium polyacrylate is a linear anion polymer with a high molecular weight, and is highly soluble in water.                           molecular formula:   -CH2-CH(COONa)                               appearance:   white powder, or granules                                molecular weight:   500-1400 ten thousand                               solid content:   Min. 95%                            toxic and protection:   Non-toxic                                LD50:   10,000 mg/kg  What happens in different types of water? Sodium Polyacrylate:  [CH2-CH] n                                       |                                     C = O                                       |                                       O - Na Sodium Polyacrylate absorbs more liquid in pure water than in just 1% salty water .  In 1% salty water it does not soak up nearly as much water than in pure water!  * :KEYWORDS:* Osmosis:  The movement of water across a simi-permeble membrane from areas of low solute concentration to areas of high solute concentration. Polymer:  A large, usually chain like molecule that is made up of identical units that repeats itself.