Synthesis and Characterization of Water Soluble and Water Swelling Thermo-sensitive Copolymers based on 2- Hydroxyethylacrylate and 2-Hydroxyethylmethacrylate

Thermo-sensitive linear and cross-linked copolymers based on 2-hydroxyethylacrylate and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate were synthesized and their physicochemical properties were investigated. It was found that copolymer solutions have lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and copolymer hydrogels of certain composition undergoes sharp collapse at temperature increase. The interaction of copolymers with surfactants was studied. It was shown that swelling behavior of copolymers in surfactants aqueous solutions depend on several factors: copolymer composition, surfactant concentration. Its influence on copolymer hydrogels is discussed. Great enhancing of amplitude of thermo-induce collapse of cross-linked polymers are caused by interaction of some nonionic hydrogels with ionic surfactant in aqueous solutions.