Abstract
Xerogels have been synthesized from copolymers of dimethylacrylamide and 2-(N-alkylperfluoro-octanesulfonamido)ethyl (meth)acrylates. The xerogels exhibit transparency despite the fact that DSC analyses reveal heterogeneous structures exhibiting two glass transition temperatures. The DSC results are indicative of a morphology made up of domains corresponding to a rigid backbone and flexible perfluorinated side-chains. On swelling in saline hydrogels were formed. The resulting materials maintain transparency, display high water contents (40-80 wt%) and moduli comparable with existing commercial hydrogel materials. The oxygen permeabilities (Dk x 1010) of the gels range from 34 to 52 (ml O2) mm cm-2 s-1 mmHg-1. These Dk values are high in comparison with those of conventional hydrogels and are indicative of a heterogeneous hydrogel structure facilitating oxygen transmission through both the aqueous phase and via a fluorine-rich co- continuous polymeric phase.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 859-865 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Materials Chemistry |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2000 |
Externally published | Yes |