Sensitivity of Absorption Behavior of Superabsorbent Polymers in Cementitious Materials

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2026.0034

Abstract

Abstract:

This study systematically compared the water absorption behavior in cementitious materials environments of two superabsorbent polymers （SAP）： sodium polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer （AA-SAP） and polyacrylamide superabsorbent polymer （AM-SAP）. The effects of cementitious material type， polycarboxylate ether （PCE） dosage， stirring rate， ambient temperature， and external pressure were investigated. Results show that AA-SAP， due to electrostatic repulsion from its ionic structure， absorbs water significantly faster than AM-SAP， which relies on hydrogen bonding. In pore solutions of different cementitious materials， geopolymer systems most strongly suppress SAP swelling because of their high ionic strength. The water absorption capacity of AA-SAP has an optimal response range to PCE dosage， while the water absorption capacity of AM-SAP continuously decreases with increasing PCE content. Higher stirring rates， leveraging the Bernoulli effect， promote swelling， with a more pronounced response in AA-SAP. Elevated temperature enhances the swelling of the two types of SAPs and thus improves water absorption capacity， while external pressure suppresses the network expansion of the two types of SAPs， leading to a reduction in water absorption ratio. The absorption behavior of SAP is governed by both molecular structure and external environment： AA-SAP performs better under low ionic strength， low-to-medium shear， or warmer conditions， while AM-SAP shows greater stability in high ionic strength or high-pressure settings. The findings provide both theoretical insights and practical guidance for the application of different types of SAPs in concrete.

Key words: superabsorbent polymer, cementitious material, ionic polymer, non-ionic polymer, absorption behavior, sensitivity

CLC Number:

TU528

YANG Jin, LIU Xiao, HE Xingyang, SU Ying, WANG Jinfu. Sensitivity of Absorption Behavior of Superabsorbent Polymers in Cementitious Materials[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(7): 2324-2334.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig.1 Particle size distribution， cumulative distribution curves， and microstructure of different SAP

Fig.2 Absorption kinetics curves of AA-SAP and AM-SAP in pore solutions of different cementitious material systems

Fig.3 Absorption expansion time and maximum absorptivity of AA-SAP and AM-SAP in pore solutions of different cementitious material systems

Table 1 Conductivity and pH value of pore solution of different cementitious material systems

Cementitious material system	pH value	Conductivity/（mS·cm^-1）
FA-cement	12.75	20.82
SF-cement	12.76	24.05
Geopolymer	13.33	55.70

Fig.4 Absorption kinetics curves of AA-SAP and AM-SAP in pore solutions with different PCE content

Fig.5 Absorption expansion time and maximum absorptivity of AA-SAP and AM-SAP in pore solutions with different PCE content

Fig.6 Absorption kinetics curves of AA-SAP and AM-SAP in pore solutions at different stirring rates

Fig.7 Absorption expansion time and maximum absorptivity of AA-SAP and AM-SAP in pore solutions at different stirring rates

Fig.8 Absorption kinetics curves of AA-SAP and AM-SAP in pore solutions at different environmental temperatures

Fig.9 Absorption expansion time and maximum absorptivity of AA-SAP and AM-SAP in pore solutions at different environmental temperatures

Fig.10 Absorption kinetics of AA-SAP and AM-SAP in pore solutions at different pressures

Fig.11 Absorption expansion time and maximum absorptivity of AA-SAP and AM-SAP in pore solutions at different pressures

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