Chemical – Sodium Polyacrylate

Sodium polyacrylate is a functional polymer used in a variety of common products such as paper diapers, pets pad, water-retaining material (to help the soil retain water), instant snow and so on. It is known for its superior absorbency:

Sodium polyacrylate can absorb hundreds of times its own weight in water. Sodium polyacrylate starts out as a powder and as it comes into contact with moisture, it swells into its gel form.

Unlike other absorbent materials, it’s not easy to squeeze the moisture out of this gel. This is what makes it perfect for use in paper diapers - your baby can sit on it, roll around, sleep for hours in a wet diaper without leaks.

Sodium polyacrylate is safe, non-toxic and free from any major safety risks. But it can pose certain dangers if not handled properly. Some of the hazards that are to be prevented when handling sodium polyacrylate.

If the powder is inhaled, sodium polyacrylate can irritate the lungs–but that’s not generally a concern. When it comes in contact with a large amount of spilt water in an area, sodium polyacrylate can cause the area to become very slippery.

If it enters sewer or drainage systems in large quantities, sodium polyacrylate can cause serious clogging and should be dealt with immediately. It is used in surgical sponges that wipe away harmful spills.

Credits: Sabitha

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