Synthesis of polymeric hydrogels containing sulfonate group

The copolymerization of n-dodecyl poly(oxyethylene)600 maleate (DPM-13) wit h 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) has been studied in th e range from 25 to 90 % DPM-13 in the feed stock. The reactivity ratio has been determined for DPM-13/AMPS copolymer. The copolymer compositions, util ized for determining the reactivity ratio, have been determined from nitrog en content and H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The copolymer was characterized by IR and H-1-NMR. Crosslinked poly(AMPS) and DPM-13/AMP S copolymers were prepared in water in the presence of potassium persulfate as initiator, and 1,1-trimethylol-propane trimethacrylate (TPT) as hexafun ctional cross-linker. The percentage of TPT was varied from 0.4 to 2 wt% to study the effect of TPT content on the swelling properties of the prepared polymers. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.