Internal　curing　by　superabsorbent　polymer　(SAP)　has　been　applied　in　alkali-activated　slag　(AAS)　systems　by　a　few　previous　studies　with　the　purpose　to　mitigate　the　autogenous　shrinkage.　However,　the　effects　of　SAP　on　other　properties　of　AAS　have　been　rarely　studied.　In　this　paper,　the　workability,　strength,　permeability,　and　frost　resistance　of　AAS　mortar　with　synthesized　SAP　are　investigated　besides　the　autogenous　shrinkage.　Two　SAP　introducing　ways　(dry　mixing　and　wet　mixing)　are　considered.　It　is　found　that　the　flowability　of　AAS　mortar　decreases　with　the　increase　of　SAP　dosage　regardless　of　the　introducing　way.　The　strength　and　permeability　increase　with　the　SAP　dosage　when　it　is　below　a　certain　amount　depending　on　the　mixing　way.　The　autogenous　shrinkage　can　be　mitigated　significantly　by　the　incorporation　of　SAP　and　the　mitigating　effect　is　more　pronounced　by　wet　mixing.　The　frost　resistance　becomes　better　when　more　SAP　is　introduced　in　either　way.　The　mechanisms　behind　these　phenomena　are　explained　based　on　the　characterization　results　on　the　reaction　kinetics,　reaction　products　and　pore　structure　of　the　mixtures　with　SAP.　©　2022　The　Author(s)