SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CINNAMOYLOXYETHYL(METH)ACRYLATES AND THEIR COPOLYMERIC HYDROGELS

Two unsaturated hydrophobic monomers, cinnamoyloxyethyl acrylate (CEA) and cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate (CEMA), were synthesized from hydr oxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), respecti vely, by the esterification reaction with cinnamoyl chloride. FT-IR, H -1- and C-13-NMR spectra were employed to characterize the monomers. T hese monomers were bulk copolymerized with HEA and HEMA, respectively, by free-radical polymerization using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). M echanical properties, thermal behavior, and surface morphology of the transparent copolymers were studied by Instron, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectivel y.