In disposable dog pee pads, super absorbent polymer (SAP) is the core water-locking material in the absorbent core layer. High-quality and low-quality polymers differ significantly in performance, safety, and user experience, directly determining whether a pee pad "can absorb a lot of liquid, lock in water effectively, and be used safely". The specific differences and their impacts on pee pads can be elaborated from the following 4 core dimensions:
Core Differences: High-Quality Polymers vs. Low-Quality Polymers (Comparison Across 4 Dimensions)
| Comparison Dimension | High-Quality Polymers | Low-Quality Polymers |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Water Absorption Capacity | A high-quality polymer can absorb 200 times its weight in tap water. For example, the polymer with an absorption rate of 200 used by Tianjin Yiyi: 1 gram of this polymer can absorb 200 grams of tap water. | A low-quality polymer can only absorb 50 to 100 times its weight in tap water. |
| 2. Water-Locking Stability | After absorbing water, it quickly forms uniform and elastic gel particles, which are not easy to break under pressure. Even when a pet steps on or lies on the pee pad, there is almost no reabsorption (liquid seeping back to the surface). | After absorbing water, it tends to form loose paste-like substances or small gel chunks. When pressed (e.g., by a pet stepping on it), it may break and leak, causing urine to flow back to the surface of the pee pad. |
| 3. Salt Resistance | It has strong salt resistance. Since urine contains impurities such as salt and protein, high-quality polymers can still maintain stable water absorption and water-locking performance in a urine environment. | It has poor salt resistance and thus shows weak urine absorption capacity. |
| 4. Safety | It is made of food-grade/medical-grade raw materials (such as acrylic copolymer resin), with no peculiar smell and no harmful substances like formaldehyde. | Most are made of industrial-grade recycled materials or inferior raw materials, which may contain formaldehyde, heavy metals (e.g., lead, mercury), and easily release pungent odors. Long-term use may irritate pets' skin, and accidental ingestion can lead to poisoning risks. |
Direct Impacts on Disposable Dog Pee Pads (3 Key Usage Scenarios)
The difference between high-quality and low-quality polymers ultimately translates into the "quality of user experience" of the dog pee pad. The specific impacts can be corresponding to 4 key concerns of pet owners:
1. Impact on "Leakage and Reabsorption Prevention": Whether It Will Wet Pets/Furniture
- High-quality polymers: After absorbing water, they form stable gels with strong water-locking ability. Even if a pet runs, jumps, or lies on the pee pad, urine can be prevented from seeping back to the surface. The pet's paws remain dry, and floors and sofas are also protected from penetration and contamination.
- Low-quality polymers: Their water-locking performance is unstable, and they are prone to leakage when pressed. Pets' paws may get wet, and they may even run around the house with the smell of urine.
2. Impact on "Usage Frequency and Cost": Whether Frequent Replacement Is Needed
- High-quality polymers: A small amount of high-quality polymer can achieve large water absorption capacity and fast absorption speed. There is no need for frequent replacement, and one pee pad can be used multiple times.
- Low-quality polymers: They have slow absorption speed and limited water absorption capacity. In some cases, urine may even overflow due to slow absorption, leading to troublesome cleaning and the need for frequent replacement.
3. Impact on "Safety": Whether It Will Endanger Pets' Health
- High-quality polymers: Made of safe raw materials, they do not release harmful substances.
- Low-quality polymers: May contain pollutants such as formaldehyde and heavy metals. Long-term contact can irritate pets' skin (causing redness, itching). If a pet accidentally ingests the inferior gel, it may stick in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to indigestion, vomiting, or even more serious health issues.
How to Simply Distinguish the Quality of Polymers in Pee Pads?
Ordinary consumers do not need professional testing equipment. They can make a preliminary judgment through the following 2 simple steps:
1. Check absorption speed and dryness
Pour a small amount of water (to simulate urine) onto the pee pad. A high-quality pee pad will dry quickly within 1 minute, and there will be no obvious water stains on a tissue when pressing the surface. A low-quality pee pad absorbs water slowly, and the tissue will be noticeably wet after pressing.
2. Smell the odor
After opening the pee pad package, a high-quality pee pad has no peculiar smell (or only a slight odor of non-woven fabric itself). A low-quality pee pad will have obvious pungent odors such as "plastic smell" or "sour smell", which is usually caused by inferior polymer raw materials.
In short, polymer is the "core soul" of disposable dog pee pads. Choosing a pee pad with high-quality polymer can reduce cleaning troubles and health risks for pets, avoiding the situation where "you buy cheap pee pads but end up spending more money unnecessarily".
