An apparatus and process for defined comminution of polymer gels, wherein the apparatus includes a static cutting element in the form of a cutting screen. The cutting element is optionally supported, and has pretensioned wires, rods, fibers, wovens, stencils or profiles. Optionally, a dynamic cutting element is provided for shortening the gel strands or particles obtained by means of the static cutting unit. Also, a feed unit is provided for feeding the polymer gel to the static cutting element in a clamped-in, shape-stable state. The feeding of the gel is effected batchwise or continuously.