A novel starch-graft-polyacrylamide/clay superabsorbent composite is synthesized by graft copolymerization reaction of acrylamide, potato starch and clay mineral micropowder, followed by hydrolysis with sodium hydroxide. The water absorbency of the composite reaches 4000 g H2O/g. The influence of kind and amounts of clay and of the crosslinker in the composite on the absorbent properties is discussed in this paper.