Abstract: A substantially water-insoluble, slightly cross-linked, partially neutralized, hydrogen-forming polymer composition consisting essentially of(a) from about 50 mole percent to 99.999 mole percent of polymerizable acid group-containing monomers, and(b) from about 0.001 mole percent to 10 mole percent of a water-soluble polyamine;said hydrogel-forming polymer composition having been formed by reacting a water-soluble acid group-containing vinyl polymer with a water-soluble polyamine at a temperature sufficient to convert the substantial portion of the amino groups of the water-soluble polyamine into amido groups.