The SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer) industry is having to meet demanding performance requirements while paying increasing attention to material composition and end-of-life, against a backdrop of continued growth in demand, particularly for hygiene products.

Manufacturers of materials traditionally derived from petroleum and based on synthetic polymers are therefore being called on to evaluate new alternatives. With forecasts indicating that the SAP market could reach USD 18.16 billion by 2030, interest in new materials and solutions is becoming increasingly evident.

Magic’s response to the search for new alternatives in the SAP field is Spongel, a super absorbent powder certified OK Compost Industrial for industrial composting. Its formulation combines absorbent properties with a different composition and end-of-life profile from conventional SAPs.

What is Spongel made of?

Composed of 85% organic material, Spongel offers a free swell capacity in saline solution of up to 70 g/g. Its liquid retention capacity, approximately 35 g/g after centrifugation, reaches values comparable to those of acrylic SAPs for this specific parameter. These technical properties have supported the development of applications using an SAP certified for industrial composting.

Awards and certifications

Spongel has received a number of awards for its quality and innovation, including first prize at the INDEX Awards in Geneva in the “Raw Materials and Innovation” category.

The OK Compost Industrial certification, obtained in 2020, documents the material’s compliance with the requirements of the relevant certification scheme for industrial composting.

Applications

Spongel can be used in a range of absorbent structures. One of its main applications is Airgel g-grade, an absorbent material produced by Magic for compostable pads used in food packaging and for hygiene applications.

Certified OK Compost Industrial, Airgel g-grade is used in the development of absorbent solutions in which the management of the material after use is also considered at the design stage. Its absorbent properties make it suitable for different applications, from fresh meat and fish packaging to fruit and vegetable packaging.

Spongel represents a further development in SAP research, combining high absorbent properties, a specific formulation and certification for industrial composting.

More information on our web site: https://magic-spa.com/en/spongel/