PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HIGH-SWELLABILITY POLYMER COMPOSITES

The present invention relates to a process for producing polymer composites suitable for absorbing and storing aqueous liquids and to the polymer composites obtainable by this process. The invention further relates to the use of these polymer composites. The process comprises free-radical polymerization of a monomer composition M which a) 50 to 100% by weight, based on the total amount of monomers A and B, of at least one monomer A having one ethylenic double bond and at least one neutralizable acid group, b) 0 to 50% by weight of optionally one or more comonomers B which are different than the monomers A and have one ethylenic double bond, and c) 0 to 10% by weight, based on the total amount of monomers A and B, of at least one crosslinker C, wherein the polymerization of the monomer composition is performed in an aqueous suspension of a water-insoluble particulate substance S comprising cellulose or lignocellulose, the weight ratio of the monomer composition M to the substance S being in the range from 9:1 to 1:9; and wherein the monomers A used for polymerization are present in the aqueous suspension in neutralized, i.e. anionic, form to an extent of at least 10 mol%, frequently to an extent of at least 20 mol%, particularly to an extent of at least 30 mol% and especially to an extent of at least 35 mol%.