Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were synthesized from acrylamide (AM) and itaconic acid (IA) via a crosslinking polymerization. SAP composites (SAPCs) were formed by the incorporation of silica with three particle sizes into the polymerization to increase the gel strength of SAPs. Effects of AM: IA molar ratios, silica types and concentrations on water absorbency, absorbency rate and absorbency under loadings (AUL) of the composites were investigated. The highest water absorbency of the SAP is 233 6 8 g g 21 at an AM: IA molar ratio of 97:3 with absorbency of 149 6 2 g g 21 within 15 min. The highest AUL of the SAPC with 0.5%-2.0% w w 21 silica is 13 g g 21 by 1.93 3 10 3 Pa load. A pseudo-second-order kinetics for water absorbency was found in both SAPs and in situ SAPCs.