Mineral plastic hydrogels from the cross-linking of polyacrylic acid and alkaline earth or transition metal ions.

Used polymer materials generate huge environmental problems nowadays. A new solution was recently provided by a physically cross-linked polyacrylic acid-based mineral plastic hydrogel, which is resistant in the anhydrous state and easily recyclable. Here we report that substituting the cross-linker by various cations and controlling the metal content can provide promising materials with analogous properties.