SYNTHETIC HYDROGELS .1. HYDROXYALKYL ACRYLATE AND METHACRYLATE COPOLYMERS - WATER BINDING-STUDIES

Copolymers of hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), hydroxypropyl acrylate (HPA), hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) with styrene and with methyl methacrylate have been studied. Variations in nature and composition have been correlated, both with the total equilibrium water content of the resultant hydrogel and with the more detailed water binding behavior as revealed by differential scanning calorimetry studies. Distinct differences are observed between hydrophilic acrylates and methacrylates in the relative effects of temperature on the equilibrium water contents of their respective copolymer series.