Superabsorbent polymer and method for preparing the same

A method for preparing a superabsorbent polymer, comprising:

• conducting crosslinking polymerization of water soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomers having acid groups of which at least a part are neutralized, in the presence of an internal crosslinking agent, to form a hydrogel polymer comprising a first crosslinked polymer and having a gel strength of 10,000 Pa or more;
• gel grinding the hydrogel polymer such that gel strength after the grinding becomes 35% to 90% of gel strength before the grinding;
• drying, grinding, and sieving the gel ground hydrogel polymer to form a base polymer powder;
• adding hydrophobic inorganic particles having a water contact angle of 50° or more to the base polymer powder;
• and
• heat treating the base polymer powder to which the hydrophobic inorganic particles are added, to progress surface crosslinking, in the presence of a surface crosslinking solution comprising hydrophilic inorganic particles having a water contact angle of 10° or less, and a surface crosslinking agent of a C2-5 alkylene carbonate.