EFFECT OF INERT COMPONENTS ON THE POROUS STRUCTURE OF 2-HYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLATE ETHYLENE DIMETHACRYLATE COPOLYMERS

The products obtained by suspension copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with ethylene dimethacrylate in water in the presence of 1-dodecanol and cyclohexanol as inert diluents were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, mercury porosimetry, water and cyclohexa ne regain and volume swelling experiments. The porosity of the resulti ng poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) beads was readily adjusted by a c hange in the ratio of 1-dodecanol (non-solvating diluent) to cyclohexa nol (solvating diluent). The morphological structure of the porous sam ples was also influenced by the choice of drying technique. Freeze-dry ing of samples swollen in water increased porosity compared to samples air-dried from ether. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.