This invention relates to a water-swellable material comprising water-swellable polymers that are coated with a coating agent that comprises a phase-separating elastomeric material, which allows swelling of the water-swellable polymers, without breakage of the coating. The invention also relates to a process of making specific coated water-swellable polymers using a phase-separating elastomeric material, and materials obtainable by such a process.