Acrylamide–itaconic acid superabsorbent polymers and superabsorbent polymer/mica nanocomposites
(635–647)Polymers for Advanced Technologies 22 #5 (2011)
Foungfung et al of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, synthesized superabsorbent polymer acrylamide (AM)/itaconic acid (IA) and its nanocomposite by redox polymerization in an aqueous solution of both monomers with mica used as an inorganic additive.  The water absorbency and the artificial urine absorbency of the composite with an AM-to-IA mole ratio of 95:5, 0.2% mol N-MBA, and 5% w/w mica were 748 ± 5 and 76 ± 2 g g−1, respectively, whilst the neat copolymer achieved only 640 ± 7 and 72 ± 2 g g−1 in water and artificial urine, respectively.  (RDC 6/9/2011)