Superabsorbent polymers having a slow rate of absorption, and a process for
their preparation. The superabsorbent polymer has a slow rate of
absorption, is crosslinked with a covalent crosslinking agent and the
metal of a polyvalent metal coordination compound, has the metal of the
coordination compound distributed essentially homogeneously throughout the
polymer, and has an Absorption Rate Index of at least about 5 minutes.
Prepare water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer particles having a slow
rate of water absorption by polymerizing a monomer in the presence of a
covalent crosslinking agent and a polyvalent metal coordination compound
under conditions such that there is formed a polymer having reversible
cationic crosslinks and such that the metal is distributed essentially
homogeneously throughout the polymer particles.