Influence of composition on properties of hydrogels of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with a sulphobetaine comonomer

Abstract

The copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and a zwitterionic methacrylate N, N-dimethyl-N-methacryloxyethyl-N-(3-sulphopropyl)-ammonium betaine in the presence of a tetrafunctional crosslinker has been effected to 100% conversion by γ-irradiation. The resultant xerogels were swollen to equilibrium in water to yield hydrogels. The water uptake, types of water and the mechanical properties were examined and discussed with relation to the composition of the copolymer. The synergistic swelling behaviour found has been explained on the basis of calculated microstructural composition. © 1991 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan.