Poly(sodium methacrylate)

Poly(sodium methacrylate) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer belonging to the polymethacrylate family, characterized by pendant sodium carboxylate groups along the backbone that confer ionic functionality and hydrophilicity. It is widely used in personal care, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications where water absorption, thickening, and ion-binding properties are valuable—particularly in superabsorbent materials, controlled-release drug delivery systems, and cosmetic formulations. Compared to alternative acrylic polymers, the sodium methacrylate structure offers a balance of water solubility and crosslinkable potential, making it especially useful when high absorbency or biocompatibility is needed without the brittleness of heavily crosslinked systems.