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Polytetrahydrofuran Amphiphilic Networks, 5. Synthesis and Swelling Behavior of Thermosensitive Poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide)‐ l ‐polytetrahydrofuran Networks
Author(s) -
Guan Ying,
Ding Xiaobin,
Zhang Wenchuan,
Wan Guoxiang,
Peng Yuxing
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3935(20020401)203:5/6<900::aid-macp900>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - amphiphile , swelling , poly(n isopropylacrylamide) , polymer chemistry , cyclohexane , copolymer , materials science , chemistry , chemical engineering , polymer , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering
A series of thermosensitive and thermoreversible poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide)‐ l ‐polytetrahydrofuran (PNIPAAm‐ l ‐PTHF) amphiphilic networks were synthesized by free‐radical copolymerization of N ‐isopropylacrylamide with the macromolecular crosslinker polytetrahydrofuran diacrylate (PTHFDA). The resulting PNIPAAm‐ l ‐PTHF networks show not only the properties of PNIPAAm and PTHF segments, but also the combined properties of the two segments. These networks are amphiphilic and their swelling is composition‐dependent both in water and in organic solvents. The relationship of their equilibrium swelling ratio ( SR e ) and the content of networks ( W PTHF ) in organic solvents can be defined as: SR e = A* W PTHF + B . They present four solubility parameters that correspond to the hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments of networks. The swelling dynamics of the networks in water is a non‐Fickian process, while in cyclohexane they approaches a Fickian process when the PTHF content is about 50–60%. Due to the presence of PTHF segments, the temperature effect on the swelling behavior of the PNIPAAm‐ l ‐PTHF networks is significantly different from other reported PNIPAAm copolymers or networks. The thermosensitivity and thermoreversibility of these networks is composition‐dependent.