Characterisation of macroporous poly(methyl methacrylate) coated with plasma-polymerised poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate)

• Published in: European polymer journal 2007-10, Vol.43 (10), p.4552-4564
• Main Authors: Serrano Aroca, A., Gómez Ribelles, J.L., Monleón Pradas, M., Vidaurre Garayo, A., Suay Antón, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Differential scanning calorimetry; Diffusion; Dynamic mechanical spectroscopy; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Porous hydrogels; Properties and characterization; Solution and gel properties; Thermogravimetry; Water sorption
• ISSN: 0014-3057; 1873-1945
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2007.07.026

Macroporous poly(methyl methacrylate) networks with varying cross-linking density and porosity were coated with plasma-polymerised poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) grafted on the pores surface. The result is a mechanically reinforced hydrogel (PMMA- gr- plPHEA) whose properties are characterised in this work using several experimental techniques. Bulk PMMA and bulk PHEA were also characterised as reference materials. The diffusion and water sorption properties of these hydrogels were studied through equilibrium water sorption isotherms and desorption starting with the sample equilibrated in immersion in liquid water or in a vapour atmosphere. Glass transition, dynamic-mechanical relaxation and thermal degradation were characterised in order to study the interphase interaction in these biphasic systems. All these experimental techniques suggested that plasma-polymerised PHEA is more homogeneously interpenetrated with highly cross-linked macroporous PMMA than if the porous substrate is a loosely cross-linked polymer network.