Fluff pulp absorbs by capillary action, holding fluid between fibres. It works quickly and it gives up the fluid again when pressure is applied, which is why a pulp-only product feels wet when sat on.

Superabsorbent polymer absorbs chemically, swelling into a gel that retains fluid under load. This is the property the industry calls retention under pressure, and it is the difference between a product that feels dry in use and one that does not, at the same total capacity.

The two work together rather than in competition. Pulp gives the fast initial acquisition that stops fluid running off the surface; SAP gives the retention that keeps it locked away afterwards. A core is a ratio, not a choice between them.

This is why total absorbency figures alone can mislead. Two pads that absorb the same volume in a laboratory funnel test will feel completely different in use if one holds it in pulp and the other in gel.