SAP Sheet Raw Material — Tissue, SAP & Coating Supplier India 2026
SAP sheet (Super Absorbent Polymer Sheet, also called SAP paper or absorbent sheet) is a sandwiched composite — a thin layer of SAP powder bonded between two tissue or nonwoven layers. It enables ultra-thin absorbent products that would be impossible with traditional fluff-pulp + SAP cores. SAP sheet has driven the move to thin-core baby diapers, slim sanitary pads, and food absorbent pads in meat and fish trays.
This guide covers the three raw materials that make up SAP sheet — tissue, SAP powder, and adhesive — plus performance specs and supply from Favourite Fab.
SAP Sheet Construction
Standard SAP sheet has 4–5 layers:
- Top tissue: Wet-laid bleached tissue, 14–18 GSM
- Hot melt adhesive (top side): 2–5 g/m² spray
- SAP powder layer: 30–150 g/m² (depending on application)
- Hot melt adhesive (bottom side): 2–5 g/m² spray
- Bottom tissue: Wet-laid tissue, 14–18 GSM
The result: an absorbent “paper” that can hold 200–800 ml of liquid per square metre and stays flat under load.
Component 1 — Tissue Substrate
Wet-laid bleached tissue is the standard. Provides flat surface, holds the SAP, allows fluid passage through.
- GSM: 14–18 (top), 16–22 (bottom)
- Material: Virgin softwood kraft pulp tissue
- Wet strength: Treated with PAE (polyamide-epichlorohydrin) for wet integrity
- Cost: ₹110–160/kg
For ultra-thin sheets, airlaid tissue (40–80 GSM) is sometimes used as a single-layer carrier with SAP embedded — see airlaid nonwoven category.
Component 2 — SAP Powder
The active absorbent. Same SAP used in diaper absorbent cores, but selected for particle size and gel-blocking behaviour suited to thin-sheet applications.
SAP grade for SAP sheets
- Particle size: 200–600 μm (finer than diaper grade for uniform distribution)
- Free swell: 40–55 g/g
- Gel-blocking resistance: Important — fine particles in thin layers can gel-block easily
- Cost: ₹180–260/kg
For SAP sourcing details: Where to buy SAP powder in bulk.
Component 3 — Hot Melt Adhesive
Bonds the SAP layer between the two tissue sheets. Must apply at low rate (2–5 g/m²) without blocking SAP absorbency.
- Type: Pressure-sensitive SIS or SBS hot melt
- Application method: Spiral spray or controlled-fibre application
- Bonding temp: 130–150°C
- Cost: ₹220–360/kg
- Application rate per sheet: 4–10 g/m² total (both sides)
Application-Specific SAP Sheet Variants
| Application | SAP Loading | Total Sheet GSM | Absorbency Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin baby diaper core | 80–120 g/m² | 120–160 GSM | 500–800 ml/m² |
| Slim sanitary pad core | 40–80 g/m² | 80–120 GSM | 250–500 ml/m² |
| Adult incontinence (slim) | 100–150 g/m² | 140–180 GSM | 700–1,000 ml/m² |
| Food absorbent pad (meat) | 30–60 g/m² | 70–100 GSM | 150–300 ml/m² |
| Food pad (premium fish/seafood) | 60–100 g/m² | 100–140 GSM | 300–500 ml/m² |
| Cooling pad / body wrap | 50–80 g/m² | 90–130 GSM | 250–400 ml/m² |
| Wound exudate pad | 80–120 g/m² | 120–160 GSM | 500–800 ml/m² |
Pricing — SAP Sheet Components & Finished Sheet
| Item | Spec | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tissue substrate | 14–18 GSM | ₹110–160/kg |
| SAP powder | 200–600 μm | ₹180–260/kg |
| Hot melt adhesive | SIS PSA | ₹220–360/kg |
| Finished SAP sheet (food pad grade) | 80 GSM total | ₹3.50–5.50/m² |
| Finished SAP sheet (diaper grade) | 140 GSM total | ₹6.50–9.50/m² |
| Finished SAP sheet (premium adult) | 180 GSM total | ₹9.50–14.00/m² |
Most buyers order finished SAP sheet ready to feed into their converting line — producing SAP sheet in-house requires specialised machinery.
SAP Sheet vs Conventional Fluff + SAP Core
| Property | Conventional Core | SAP Sheet Core |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 5–10 mm | 1–2 mm |
| Absorbency per cm² | Lower | Higher |
| Production speed | Slower (air-laid forming) | Faster (no in-line forming) |
| Capital cost | Higher (hammermills, formers) | Lower (just unwind & cut) |
| Material cost per pad | Lower | Higher (~30–50% more) |
| Best for | Mass-market thick pads | Premium thin pads, food pads |
Food Absorbent Pad — A Growing Use
SAP sheet is increasingly the absorbent of choice for meat, fish, and seafood tray pads in modern retail. The pads sit under the product to absorb drip and extend shelf life. Indian retail and export market demand has grown sharply with organised food retail expansion.
- Standard pad sizes: 80×120, 100×150, 100×200, 130×170 mm
- SAP loading: 30–60 g/m² (regulatory limits in food contact)
- Top sheet: Often perforated PE film for clean appearance
- Bottom sheet: White or coloured tissue
- Compliance: FSSAI food contact certification, EU 10/2011 for export
Why Source SAP Sheet Components from Favourite Fab
- SAP powder: Multiple grades from baby diaper to food-pad fine grade
- Tissue substrate: Wet-laid tissue 14–22 GSM with PAE wet-strength treatment
- Finished SAP sheet: Available via partner production with our SAP and tissue
- Test certificates: Absorbency capacity, basis weight, food-contact compliance
- ISO 9001:2015 certified
Connected: SAP sheet category | What is SAP powder
Frequently Asked Questions
Can SAP sheet replace fluff pulp + SAP cores entirely?
For thin-core baby and adult products, yes. For premium overnight diapers and heavy-flow pads, fluff still adds important cushioning and acquisition speed that pure SAP sheet doesn’t match. Hybrid cores (thin fluff layer + SAP sheet) are common.
Is SAP sheet food-safe?
SAP sheets used in food applications must be food-contact certified — FSSAI in India, FDA 21 CFR in US, EU 10/2011 in EU. SAP grade and tissue grade selection both matter for food compliance.
How is SAP distributed evenly?
Two methods: gravimetric scattering (controlled-rate spreader) or vacuum-formed laydown. Even distribution is critical — clumps cause local gel-blocking and poor performance. Quality control: random spot checks of basis weight uniformity at sampling intervals.
Can SAP sheet be made compostable?
Tissue is naturally biodegradable. Synthetic SAP is not. Bio-SAP (corn starch based) combined with tissue substrate gives a fully compostable SAP sheet — but cost is 2–3× standard, and absorbency is lower. Used in premium biodegradable hygiene products.
What’s the difference between airlaid and SAP sheet?
Airlaid is a single-layer composite of cellulose fibre + SAP + bonding (resin or thermal). SAP sheet is a sandwich — SAP powder between two pre-made tissue layers, bonded by hot melt. Airlaid is more durable; SAP sheet is thinner and cheaper to produce.
What machinery is needed for SAP sheet production?
SAP sheet production requires a multi-station line: tissue unwind, hot melt application, SAP scattering, second tissue lay-down, hot melt application, calendering or pressing, and rewind. Capital cost ₹2.5–5 crore depending on capacity. Most converters buy finished sheet rather than produce in-house.
Get SAP Sheet Samples
Share your application (food pad, hygiene core, wound dressing), target SAP loading, and dimensions. Receive 0.5–1 m² samples within 7 days.
- 📞 +91 95288 11566 / +91 88007 75462
- ✉️ sale@favouritehub.com
- 🌐 Send specifications
Gaurav Garg
I'm Gaurav Garg, CEO of Favourite Fab, a company on a mission to revolutionize the nonwoven industry with sustainable practices. We work hand-in-hand with manufacturers and suppliers who share our commitment to eco-friendly production. With a deep interest in textile innovation, I'm passionate about educating consumers about sustainable material options and their potential to transform the nonwoven landscape.
