Advances in non-hygienic applications of superabsorbent hydrogel materials

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are organic materials with lightly crosslinked three-dimensional structure possessing high to very high swelling capacity in aqueous media. These are in fact the most commercially successful members of the hydrogel family. The SAP production for personal care products (baby diapers and feminine incontinence products) accounts for about 80% of the overall hydrogel production. Research during the past 30 years, although not affected the commercial status of SAPs, has led to more and more understanding of superabsorbent structures, their properties, and potential uses. Beyond the hygienic use, the SAPs have found very wide applications from the agricultural formulations to pharmaceutical dosage forms. Since hygiene applications of SAPs are very well established and well reviewed, this article reviews and highlights the SAP applications in other sectors, such as in agriculture, pharmaceutics, separation technology, fibers/textiles, water-swelling rubbers, soft actuators/valves, electrical and construction.