Preparation and swelling of polymeric hydrogels
(EN)
Andreopoulos, AG
(EN)
Hydrogel polymers find extensive biomedical applications combining the properties of hydrophilic and crosslinked materials. In this work, poly(methacrylic acid) hydrogels were prepared by the copolymerization of methacrylic acid with varying amounts of 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate. The polymerization reaction was followed by viscometric measurements and the swelling properties of the samples prepared were also investigated. Alkaline treatment of the hydrogels was performed, to define the changes induced. Finally, a correlation between swelling data, derived from loosely crosslinked samples, led to the determination of the interaction parameter of the system poly(methacrylic acid)-water.
(EN)
