Equilibrium swelling of multi-stimuli-responsive superabsorbent hydrogels

Superabsorbent gels (lightly cross-linked copolymer gels with water absorption capacity up to several thousands g/g) have recently attracted substantial attention due to their novel applications in agriculture, environmental management, and civil engineering. As superabsorbent hydrogels (SAHs) are conventionally prepared by copolymerization of polyelectrolyte and temperature-sensitive neutral monomers, their response is strongly affected by temperature, pH, and ionic strength of solutions. A characteristic feature of SAHs is an anomalous increase in their elastic modulus with degree of swelling.