Polyacrylamide/hollow coal gangue spheres (PAM/HCGS) superabsorbent composites were prepared by in situ aqueous solution polymerization using N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator. PAM/HCGS composites exhibit the good water and salt absorption with 5 wt % HCGS, 0.14 wt % crosslinker, and 0.56 wt % initiator. Water retention of PAM/HCGS (5 wt %) retains 43% at 60 degrees C for 24 h, which is much better than that of pure polyacrylamide. It suggests that the addition of HCGS increase the strength of swollen gel. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2184-2187, 2013