| abstract |
A composition of a superabsorbent polymer and a process for using the polymer to absorb an aqueous electrolyte solution are disclosed. The composition comprises repeating units derived from: (a) an ampholytic ion pair prepared from a polymerizable vinylic tertiary amine-containing monomer and an acid having an ethylenic moiety; (b) at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylonitrile, acrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, alkali salts of acrylic acid, alkali salts of methacrylic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylamine, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, alkali salts of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethane sulfonic acid, alkali salts of 2-methacrylamidopropyldimethylamine, styrene sulfonic acid, alkali salts of styrene sulfonic acid, and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone; and optionally, (c) at least one crosslinking agent which has at least two polymerizable olefinic functionalities wherein the olefinic functionalities are suitable for crosslinking. |