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Hydrogels - Water-Absorbing Polymers

A Catalyst article about hydrogels. Soft contact lenses, disposable nappies, hair gel and plant water crystals all make use of substances called hydrogels. These are polymers which have the unusual property of being able to absorb huge quantities of water. The article looks at the structure of hydrogels and their uses; there are also two experiments that can be carried on domestic products.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2007, Volume 18, Issue 1.

Catalyst is a science magazine for students aged 14-19 years. Annual subscriptions to print copies of the magazine can be purchased from Mindsets.

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