lipophilic super - absorbent swelling gels have been developed that will not only absorb the oil and grease from these machine parts , but will also act as an automated sweeper due to the self - generating mechanical force of the gel . an octadecylacrylate - co - ethylene glycol dimethacrylate tetraalkylammonium tetraphenylborate lipophilic polyelectrolyte gel and poly neutral gel were evaluated for swelling and oil sorption capacity . ng - 18 and eg - 18 gels removed particulate contaminants and absorbed oils and grease on metal and non - metal surfaces without causing abrasion . the gels are also recyclable . the cleaning ability of the gels was compared with the standard solvent cleaner trichloroethylene following astm g122 - 96 test methods and mil - prf - 680b procedure with mil - prf - 10924 test grease . polymer gel cleaners exhibited analogous extent and rate of cleaning as the tce . these recyclable superabsorbent polymer cleaners will allow drastic reduction in the use of voc containing solvents and hap release .