SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AMPHIPHILIC NETWORKS OBTAINED BY COPOLYMERIZATION OF POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) MACROMONOMERS WITH METHYL-METHACRYLATE

Hydrogels whose elastic chains are constituted of hydrophilic Poly(eth ylene oxide) (PEO) segments were obtained through free radical homopol ymerization or copolymerization with methylmethacrylate (MMA) of alpha ,omega-methacryloyloxy PEO macromonomers. This reaction can be conduct ed in water solution or in organic solvent. These networks were invest igated as gels swollen to equilibrium in THF or in water. The influenc e of the preparation solvent on the properties of these networks was s tudied. The mechanical properties of the networks obtained in water ar e better than those of networks obtained under exactly the same condit ions in organic solvents. This result can be explained by the preferen tial formation in water of micellar structures containing a higher con centration of polymerizable units. The influence of the concentration of the hydrophobic comonomer on the properties of these PEO networks w as also examined.