Rheological properties of homogeneous and heterogeneous poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels

• Published in: Polymer international Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 328 - 336
• Main Authors: Karpushkin, Evgeny, Dušková-Smrčková, Miroslava, Remmler, Torsten, Lapčíková, Monika, Dušek, Karel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.02.2012; Wiley
• Subjects: 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate; Applied sciences; Creep (materials); Exact sciences and technology; Free radicals; Gels; hydrogel; Hydrogels; modulus; Morphology; Optimization; Organic polymers; phase separation; Physicochemistry of polymers; Properties and characterization; Rheological properties; shear behaviour; Solution and gel properties; Swelling; Creep; Swelling; Redox polymerization; shear behaviour; Mechanical properties; Shear strength; Hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer; Experimental study; Porous material; 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate; Colloidal gel; phase separation; Morphology; Hydrogel; Methacrylate copolymer; modulus; Rheological properties
• ISSN: 0959-8103; 1097-0126
• DOI: 10.1002/pi.3194

The swelling and rheological behaviour of hydrogels of morphology varying from non‐porous to highly porous was investigated. The hydrogels were prepared by redox free radical copolymerization of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate with 0.1 to 5 mol% of di(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate in the presence of water varying from 40 to 80 wt%. Various compositions led to clear, turbid or macroporous gels. The morphology of the gels was characterized using optical microscopy and cryoscan electron microscopy. The oscillatory shear and creep of swollen gels revealed that there was a pronounced difference between homogeneous or microheterogeneous and macroporous gels with communicating pores. The achievement of optimum conditions for the correct determination of shear modulus was also analysed. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry Shear rheological studies of hydrogels revealed pronounced differences between homogeneous and phase‐separated gels (micro‐ or macro‐ porous) and clearly reflected various morphologies. A method to find optimum parameters for measurements was established.