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How Silica Gel Took Over the World

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225 points Hooke | 2 comments | 01 Apr 25 19:33 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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eande ◴[01 Apr 25 20:16 UTC] No.43550885[source]▶
Another one of these fascinating super absorbent materials is SAP (Superabsorbent polymer).

It is heavily used in diapers, tissues, water retention for plants, etc. SAP can absorb liquid up to 30-60 times its own volume.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superabsorbent_polymer

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genewitch ◴[02 Apr 25 08:06 UTC] No.43554582[source]▶
Aka orbees. Also useful as a soil amendment if you have clay soil, it stops it from claying so much and retains water underground for plants.

They make glow in the dark ones, which I put into a masonry jar with some distilled water and a drop of bleach, I light it from underneath with a USB LED and it glows for about an hour. Cool night time light.

Back in the early 90s they had a different name and they were irregularly shaped. This was for Soil Amendment. I think it started with a Z.

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1. joecool1029 ◴[02 Apr 25 14:57 UTC] No.43557410[source]▶
> I think it started with a Z.

zeolite? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeolite

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2. genewitch ◴[02 Apr 25 15:25 UTC] No.43557746[source]▶
i don't think so. It was a brand name of whatever SAP they had decided was safe for plants to bathe in. I found some about a decade ago, just by asking about water retention crystals at an agricultural outlet. I think it's cheaper to buy orbees when they're on clearance, though.