INTELLIGENT NETWORKS BASED ON POLY(OXYETHYLENE)

Films of PEO and PEO blends were efficiently crosslinked by exposure t o ultraviolet radiation with high-pressure mercury lamp. Photochemical crosslinking proceeded in the presence of photoinitiator such as benz ophenone or pentaerythritol triacrylate. PEO networks obtained by UV i rradiation in the presence of potassium salts (thiocyanate, perchlorat e and triflate) as templates showed enhanced cation binding ability fo r Li+ and Na+ cations. Cationic networks were prepared from crosslinke d PEO modified with ethyl methacrylate dimethyl dodecyl ammonium bromi de. Stimuli-sensitive hydrogels (pH and temperature) were prepared fro m combinations of PEO and poly-N-isopropyl acryl amide, polyvinyl meth yl ether, polyvinyl acetate and poly-2-vinyl pyridine subjected to UV irradiation.