PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF 2-COMPONENT HYDROGELS BASED ON 2-ACRYLAMIDO-2-METHYLPROPANE SULFONIC-ACID

Xerogels comp rising 2-acrylnmido-2-methylpropane sulphonic acid (AMPS ) and acrylic acid Its well as AMPS and acrylamide crosslinked with he xafunctional crosslinking agent have been prepared by catalytic initia tion polymerization to complete conversion. Different percentages of h exafunctional crosslinker, 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, w ere used to prepare crosslinked copolymers having different degree of crosslink densities. The crosslinked copolymers were swollen in water to equilibrium The volume function of polymer, the swelling capacity a nd the equilibrium water content were obtained. Low conversion polymer ization was used to determine the reactivity ratios of both monomer pa irs. Fourier transform spectroscopy was utilized to measure the molar ratio of copolymers constituents. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.