Gel blocking is a reason of poor performance of many absorbent products available on the market especially when they have high quantity of hydrogel (SAP). The term gel blocking describes a phenomenon that occurs when a hydrogel particle, film, fiber, etc. is wetted; the surface swells and inhibits liquid transmission to the interior of the product. Wetting of the interior subsequently takes place via a very slow diffusion process. In practical terms this means that the absorption is much slower than discharge of fluid to be absorbed, and failure of a diaper or sanitary napkin or other absorbent structure may take place well before the hydrogel material in the absorbent structure is fully wet. Rif E. Carus, "First International Absorbent Products Conference Proceedings", November, t98Q, Section V-I; and J. H. Field, "Pulp Parameters Affecting Product Performance", TAPPI, 65(7) 1982, pp. 93-97.