#superabsorbent polymers

A better sustainable sanitary pad

Each year, nearly 20 billion sanitary pads, tampons and applicators are dumped into North American landfills every year, and it takes centuries for them to biodegrade inside plastic bags, according to a 2016 Harvard Business School report. Additionally, it requires high amounts of fossil fuel energy to produce the plastic for these products, resulting in a large carbon footprint.

But a team of students led by University of Utah materials science and engineering assistant professor (lecturer) Jeff Bates has developed a new, 100-percent biodegradable feminine maxi pad that is made of all natural materials and is much thinner and more comfortable than other similar products.

The SHERO Pad uses a processed form of algae as its super-absorbent ingredient, which is then covered with cotton and the same material that makes up tea bags. The result is a maxi pad that is effective, comfortable to wear and can break down anywhere from 45 days to six months.

"This is novel in comparison to other biodegradable options out there for pads," said Amber Barron, a University of Utah junior in materials science and engineering who is on the team of four students. "Most are really bulky because they don't have a superabsorbent layer."

The rapidly evolving Acrylic Acid Market is experiencing a powerful wave of strategic innovation as downstream industrial sectors seek higher-performing polymer formulations. This versatile organic compound serves as a foundational building block for an extensive array of consumer and industrial products, ranging from clear surface coatings to highly complex wastewater treatment chemicals. As global population centers expand and urbanization creates higher consumer expectations, chemical manufacturers are aggressively scaling up their production systems to ensure reliable material availability.

This massive upsurge in processing requirements is heavily influencing the Global Acrylic Acid market as development firms, hygiene product manufacturers, and adhesive developers alter their raw material procurement strategies. The Acrylic Acid market was valued at USD 12,281 Million in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 15,713 Million by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% from 2025 to 2032. This solid growth curve reflects how deeply embedded these intermediate chemicals have become in modern, high-volume production lines worldwide.

The Phenomenal Growth of Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs)

The single largest driver for this chemical intermediate is the global personal care and hygiene industry. Superabsorbent polymers, which are created directly from refined acrylic acid, possess an incredible ability to absorb and retain fluids relative to their own mass.

This unique property makes them completely irreplaceable in the high-volume production of:

Infant Diapers: Ensuring reliable, long-lasting moisture retention and skin safety.

Adult Incontinence Products: Meeting the rising demands of an aging global demographic.

Agricultural Water-Retention Gels: Helping farmers conserve vital moisture in drought-prone cultivation zones.

As global living standards continuously rise across emerging economies, the baseline demand for these essential hygiene commodities ensures a highly secure, predictable foundation for chemical manufacturing plants over the next decade.

Expanding Infrastructure and Architectural Coatings

Acrylic Acid Market is closely linked to the growth of the hygiene and healthcare sector. Acrylic acid derivatives are essential in producing superabsorbent polymers that provide high liquid retention and comfort in hygiene products.

The Acrylic Acid market study indicates that rising population growth and increased awareness of personal hygiene are driving demand for diapers, adult incontinence products, and feminine hygiene items. These trends are directly contributing to market expansion.

According to the Acrylic Acid market report, Europe remains a major consumer due to advanced healthcare infrastructure and high hygiene standards.

Acrylic acid-based polymers are also used in medical adhesives and wound care products, where flexibility and skin compatibility are critical. These specialized applications are enhancing the Acrylic Acid market share in healthcare-focused regions.

Despite strong demand, supply chain disruptions and raw material price fluctuations continue to challenge manufacturers. These issues impact production stability but are being addressed through diversification and long-term supply agreements.

Acrylic acid, an important component in the chemical sector, has experienced substantial development and variation in the past few years. This multipurpose compound works as a building block for many items and has applications across many sectors. The global acrylic acid market revenue is estimated to have stood at USD 12.1 billion in 2023, advancing at a CAGR of 3.2% during 2024–2030, to reach…

Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP) Sebagai Material Konstruksi Canggih

Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs) adalah jenis polimer yang dapat menyerap dan mempertahankan jumlah cairan yang sangat besar relatif terhadap massanya. Dengan kemungkinan rasio pembengkakan hingga 1000: 1, SAPs atau slush powder baru-baru ini memainkan peran penting sebagai bahan konstruksi canggih.

  Apa itu Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP)?

Bahan hidrofilik bekerja dengan mengikat molekul air,…

The global Superabsorbent Polymers market is projected to reach 3.4 million metric tons by 2025, driven by growing applications in hygiene and non-hygiene products, and increasing global focus on bio-degradable SAP.

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are cross-linked acrylic homo-polymers, which possess the capability to absorb as well as retain substantial volumes of water. Superabsorbent polymers also exhibit other unique characteristics such as biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, swelling and de-swelling, and high absorption capabilities. Traditionally superabsorbent polymers have been used primarily in baby diapers, adult incontinence products and feminine hygiene products. Since SAP can efficiently retain moisture in gel form, the material is widely used in hygiene products as a medium of solidification. Driven by its superior absorbency features, the use of superabsorbent polymers is extending to other applications such as agriculture, food packaging, waste disposal, construction materials and flood control, among others.

The global market for superabsorbent polymers is being driven primarily by the material’s increasing use in hygiene products such as baby disposable diapers, adult incontinence products and feminine hygiene products. Increasing awareness about health among consumers in developed and developing economies, a rapidly aging world population and steady increase in infant population are ensuring stable demand for SAP in hygiene products. In the coming years, applications in agriculture and water treatment are likely to stimulate growth in the SAP market. Growing focus of countries on improving efficiency of agricultural operations, increasing use of compact diapers, growing prominence of SAP as a cleansing agent in the water treatment industry and rising use of SAP as soil additive in the agriculture industry are also expected to favor growth in the superabsorbent polymers market. The polymers are also expected to find use in absorbent medical dressings and for controlled release drugs. Growth in the superabsorbent polymers market will also be fueled by the rapid pace of technology advances, which will allow the polymer to be used in an expanding range of applications. Specifically, biodegradable superabsorbent polymers are expected to positively impact future demand for SAP.

As stated by the new market research report on Superabsorbent Polymers, Asia-Pacific represents the largest market worldwide, supported by factors such as growing population, escalating demand for healthcare services and increased consumption of disposable medical absorbent products; rapidly aging population, rise in incontinence and demand for adult diapers; higher fertility rates in comparison to global average and a parallel increase in demand for disposable baby diapers; increasing levels of female education and the resulting rise in demand for feminine hygiene solutions; and growing production of superabsorbent polymers as evidenced by new plant establishments and capacity expansion initiatives. The region is also poised to grow at the fastest CAGR of 9.2% over the analysis period.

Major players in the market include BASF SE, Evonik Industries AG, Formosa Plastics Corporation, LG Chem Ltd., Nippon Shokubai Co. Ltd., Quanzhou Banglida Technology Industry Co. Ltd., Sanyo Chemical Industries Ltd., Shandong Nuoer Biological Technology Co. Ltd., Songwon Industrial Co. Ltd., Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Company Limited, and Yixing Danson Technology, among others.

The research report titled "Superabsorbent Polymers - Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts" announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, issues, drivers, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities of global companies. The report provides market estimates and projections for all major geographic markets such as the US, Canada, Japan, Europe (France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, India and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Middle East & Africa and Latin America (Brazil and Rest of Latin America). The market is analyzed by the following End-Use Segments - Disposable Diapers, Adult Incontinence Pads, Feminine Hygiene Products and Others.

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