Carbomer

Carbomer is a polymer with the formula (CH2-CHCO2H)n. It is a derivative of acrylic acid (CH2=CHCO2H). In addition to the homopolymers, a variety of copolymers and crosslinked polymers, and partially deprotonated derivatives thereof are known and of commercial value. In a water solution at neutral pH, PAA is an anionic polymer, i.e., many of the side chains of PAA lose their protons and acquire a negative charge. Partially or wholly deprotonaated PAAs are polyelectrolytes, with the ability to absorb and retain water and swell to many times their original volume. These properties - acid-base and water-attracting - are the bases of many applications.

The dominant application for PAA is as a superabsorbent. About 25% of PAA is used for detergents and dispersants.Polyacrylic acid and its derivatives are used in disposable diapers. Acrylic acid is also the main component of Superadsorbent Polymers (SAPs), cross-linked polyacrylates that can absorb and retain more than 100 times of their own weight in liquid. Hydrogels derived from PAA have attracted much study for use as bandages and aids for wound healing.