Abstract: Methods of making gel materials are disclosed including mixing a water soluble crosslinkable matrix polymer, a particulate polymer material which has been crosslinked to a gel content of at least 55% and an aqueous solvent, and crosslinking the matrix polymer to form a gel matrix of the matrix polymer in which the particles of particulate polymer material are dispersed, each of the crosslinked matrix polymer and the crosslinked particulate polymer material being capable of absorbing water. Gel materials are also disclosed including particles of a particulate polymer material capable of absorbing water and which is crosslinked so that it has a gel content of at least about 55% dispersed in a matrix of a polymer which has been crosslinked to reduce its solubility in water so that it swells rather than dissolves in water, the size of at least 60% by weight of the particles of particulate polymer material being less than about 100 &mgr;m.