Interaction between water and polymer chains in poly[hydroxyethyl acrylate) hydrogels

Citation
Mm. Pradas et al., Interaction between water and polymer chains in poly[hydroxyethyl acrylate) hydrogels, COLLOID P S, 279(4), 2001, pp. 323-330
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Organic Chemistry/Polymer Science
Journal title
COLLOID AND POLYMER SCIENCE
ISSN journal
0303402X → ACNP
Volume
279
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
323 - 330
Database
ISI
SICI code
0303-402X(200104)279:4<323:IBWAPC>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
Polymer networks of different cross-linking densities were prepared by copo lymerisation of hydroxyethyl acrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. T he average molecular weight between cross-links as well as the polymer chai n mobility were characterised by means of dynamic-mechanical spectroscopy. Equilibrium sorption iso-therms and the water uptake in immersion in liquid water allowed the determination of the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter between water molecules and polymer chain segments, which decreased with t he water activity in the hydrogel and increased with the crosslinking densi ty as a consequence of the hydrophobic character of the cross-linking agent . Dynamic sorption and desorption experiments were used to determine the di ffusion coefficient.