Observation for mechanical property variations of single polymer particles

Monodisperse polymer particles were prepared via conventional microsuspension polymerization or one‐step seeded polymerization, using 1,6‐hexanedioldiacrylate or its mixture with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinking monomer and poly(methyl methacrylate) synthesized by soap‐free polymerization as seed particles. For the study, the effects of the ratio of the absorbed monomer or monomer mixture to the seed polymer particles (swelling ratio), the ratio of EGDMA in absorbed monomer mixture, the dosage of initiator, polymer particle structure, and the electroless Ni plating on the mechanical properties of polymer particles, such as recovery rate, K‐values, breaking strength, and breaking displacement were investigated using micro compression test. It was observed that monomer swelling ratio influenced only on breaking strength, whereas EGDMA ratio in monomer mixture, dosage of initiator, polymer structure and electroless Ni plating did on both K‐values and breaking strength. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of a porous poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate)‐based hydrogel device for the implantable delivery of insulin

Poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) [poly(HEMA‐co‐EGDMA)]‐based hydrogel devices were synthesized by a free‐radical polymerization reaction with 2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate as the monomer, different concentrations of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the crosslinking agent, and ammonium persulfate/N,N,N′,N′‐tetra‐methyl ethylenediamine as the free‐radical initiator. The porosity of the poly(HEMA‐co‐EGDMA) hydrogels was controlled with water as the porogen. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum of poly(HEMA‐co‐EGDMA) showed absorption bands associated with ? C?O stretching at 1714 cm^?1, C? O? C stretching vibrations at 1152 cm^?1, and a broad band at 3500–3800 cm^?1 corresponding to ? OH stretching. Atomic force microscopy studies showed that the hydrogel containing 67% water had pores in the range of 3500–9000 nm, whereas the hydrogel containing 7% water did not show measurable pores. The hydrogel synthesized with 1% EGDMA showed 50% thallium‐201 release within the first 30 min and about 80% release within 60 min. In vitro insulin‐release studies suggested that the hydrogel with 27% water showed sustained release up to 120 min, whereas the hydrogels with 47 and 67% water showed that nearly all of the insulin was released within 60 min. Hydrogel devices synthesized with 27% water and filled with insulin particles showed sustained release for up to 8 days, whereas the hydrogels synthesized with 47 and 67% water released insulin completely within 3 days of administration. Animal studies suggested that the hydrogel devices synthesized with 27% water and filled with insulin‐loaded particles (120 IU) were able to control blood glucose levels for up to 5 days after implantation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Relaxational behavior and swelling‐pH master curves of poly[(diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)‐graft‐(ethylene glycol)] hydrogels

Poly[(diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)‐graft‐(ethylene glycol)] hydrogels were prepared with a molar ratio of 10:1 of diethylaminoethyl methacrylate to poly(ethylene glycol) of number‐average molecular weights (M_n) 200, 400 and 1000 g mol^?1 using tetra(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate to give a crosslinking ratio between 0.5 and 4.0 %. Glucose oxidase and catalase were immobilized in the matrix during polymerization. The maximum enzyme loading used was 6.6 × 10^?4 g of glucose oxidase per g of polymer. The equilibrium and dynamic swelling properties of these hydrogels were investigated. The pH‐dependent equilibrium swelling characteristics showed a sharp transition between the swollen and the collapsed state at pH 7.0. The dynamic response of the hydrogel discs to pH was analyzed in pulsatile pH conditions. The effects of particle size, crosslinking and molecular weight of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on the dynamic swelling response were investigated. The pulsatile nature of the response was analyzed using Boltzmann superposition. Swelling–pH master curves were obtained. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Adsorption of cationic dyes on poly(acrylic acid‐co‐sodium acrylate‐co‐acrylamide) superabsorbents

Inverse suspension polymerization was carried out to synthesize poly(acrylic acid‐co‐sodium acrylate‐co‐acrylamide) superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) crosslinked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The equilibrium swelling capacities of the SAPs, determined by swelling them in DI water, were found to vary with the acrylamide (AM) content. The SAPs were used to adsorb four cationic dyes (Acriflavine, Auramine‐O, Azure‐I and Pyronin‐Y). The effect of AM content in the SAPs on the adsorption of the cationic dyes was investigated. Different initial concentrations of Azure‐I were used with the same amount of the SAP to explore the effect of initial dye concentration on the adsorption. The effect of the adsorbent amount was investigated by taking different amounts of SAP with a fixed initial concentration of Acriflavine. The kinetics of the dye adsorption was modeled by a first order model and the equilibrium amount of the dye adsorbed, adsorption rate coefficients, removal efficiency and partition coefficients were determined. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Swelling behavior and diffusion studies of high‐water‐retaining acrylamide/potassium methacrylate hydrogels

Poly(acrylamide‐co‐potassium methacrylate) hydrogels were prepared by free‐radical simultaneous polymerization with aqueous solutions of acrylamide (AAm) and potassium methacrylate (KMA) with a redox initiator. The copolymerization was performed with eight different compositions of KMA at a fixed concentration of oil‐soluble crosslinkers, including 1,4‐butanediol diacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). For every composition of AAm/KMA copolymer, the percentage swelling, swelling equilibrium, and diffusion characteristics were investigated. The copolymers were further studied for deswelling properties. The power law relationships of the hydrogels were evaluated for variation in terms of saline concentration. The AAm/KMA copolymers were confirmed by IR spectroscopy. Thermal studies of hydrogels were performed with differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. EGDMA was found to be a better crosslinker for obtaining higher swelling and deswelling properties for the AAm/KMA hydrogels. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1153–1164, 2005     

Preparation of narrow‐disperse or monodisperse poly{[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate]‐co‐(acrylic acid)} microspheres with ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate as crosslinker by distillation precipitation polymerization

Narrow‐disperse or monodisperse poly{[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate]‐co‐(acrylic acid)} (poly(PEGMA‐co‐AA)) microspheres were prepared by distillation precipitation polymerization with ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator in neat acetonitrile in the absence of any stabilizer, without stirring. The diameters of the resultant poly(PEGMA‐co‐AA‐co‐EGDMA) microspheres were in the range 200–700 nm with a polydispersity index of 1.01–1.14, which depended on the comonomer feed of the polymerization. The addition of the hydrogen bonding monomer acrylic acid played an essential role in the formation of narrow‐disperse or monodisperse polymer microspheres during the polymerization. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Polymer phase transition in n‐lauryl methacrylate monoliths

Monolithic materials prepared from a mixture of n‐lauryl methacrylate (LMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) dedicated to nano‐liquid chromatography separation were synthesized using in situ UV polymerization in 75 µm inner diameter capillary tubing. A mixture of cyclohexanol and ethylene glycol was used as a porogen to control porosity. While the preparation conditions yielded satisfactory analytical results, values of pertinent parameters turned out to be critical for obtaining columns with efficient separation. In particular, the impact of two key parameters was studied here in an attempt to identify optimal preparation conditions: (a) different concentrations of the crosslinker EGDMA and (b) different porogen compositions while the monomer to porogen ratio was kept constant. Resulting monolithic phases were characterized in terms of permeability, mean pore diameter and swelling using three different eluents (water, acetonitrile and a mixture at maximum viscosity). First, the LMA/EGDMA monolithic phases present peculiar morphology and hydrodynamic properties for 37% by weight of EGDMA, as reflected by the peak observed for their permeability and mean pore diameter. Swelling experiments revealed the coexistence of two phases in the monolithic structure: a highly crosslinked rigid phase which was insensitive to swelling in the presence of solvent and a weakly crosslinked flexible phase exhibiting significant swelling, with a transition to such a biphasic behavior taking place at 37% by weight of EGDMA. The effects of porogen composition and network swelling properties are presented based on a combination of the Flory ? Huggins theory of isotropic mixing in polymer solutions and the Flory ? Rehner theory of rubber elasticity in the affine network approximation. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Cu(II)‐incorporated,histidine‐containing,magnetic‐metal‐complexing beads as specific sorbents for the metal chelate affinity of albumin

N‐Methacryloyl‐(L )‐histidine methyl ester (MAH) was synthesized from metharyloyl chloride and histidine. Spherical beads with an average size of 150–250 μm were obtained by the suspension polymerization of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and MAH in an aqueous dispersion medium. Magnetic poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate‐co‐N‐Methacryloyl‐(L )‐histidine methyl ester) [m‐p(EGDMA‐co‐MAH)] microbeads were characterized with swelling tests, electron spin resonance, elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The specific surface area of the beads was 80.1 m²/g. m‐p(EGDMA‐co‐MAH) microbeads with a swelling ratio of 40.2% and 43.9 μmol of MAH/g were used for the adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a batch system. The Cu(II) concentration was 4.1 μmol/g. The adsorption capacity of BSA on the Cu(II)‐incorporated beads was 19.2 mg of BSA/g. The BSA adsorption first increased with the BSA concentration and then reached a plateau, which was about 19.2 mg of BSA/g. The maximum adsorption was observed at pH 5.0, which was the isoelectric point of BSA. The BSA adsorption increased with decreasing temperature, and the maximum adsorption was achieved at 4°C. High desorption ratios (>90% of the adsorbed BSA) were achieved with 1.0M NaSCN (pH 8.0) in 30 min. The nonspecific adsorption of BSA onto the m‐p(EGDMA‐co‐MAH) beads was negligible. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2669–2677, 2004     

Adsorption of Cr(VI) ions onto poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate‐1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole)

Poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate‐1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole) [poly(EGDMA‐VTAZ)] beads (average diameter = 150–200 μm) were prepared by copolymerizing ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) with 1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole (VTAZ). Poly(EGDMA‐VTAZ) beads were characterized by swelling studies and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The adsorption of Cr(VI) from solutions was carried at different contact times, Cr(VI) concentrations, pH, and temperatures. High adsorption rates were achieved in about 240 min. The amount of Cr(VI) adsorbed increased with increasing concentration and decreasing pH and temperature. The intraparticle diffusion rate constants at various temperatures were calculated. Adsorption isotherms of Cr(VI) onto poly(EGDMA‐VTAZ) have been determined and correlated with common isotherm equations such as Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The Langmuir isotherm model appeared to fit the isotherm data better than the Freundlich isotherm model. The pseudo first‐order kinetic model was used to describe the kinetic data. The study of temperature effect was quantified by calculating various thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy changes. The dimensionless separation factor (R_L) showed that the adsorption of metal ions onto poly(EGDMA‐VTAZ) was favorable. It was seen that values of distribution coefficient (K_D) decreasing with Cr(VI) concentration in solution at equilibrium (C_e) indicated that the occupation of activate surface sites of adsorbent increased with Cr(VI). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Determination of swelling behavior and morphological properties of poly(acrylamide‐co‐itaconic acid) and poly(acrylic acid‐co‐itaconic acid) copolymeric hydrogels

Poly(acrylamide‐co‐itaconic acid) (PAAmIA) and poly(acrylic acid‐co‐itaconic acid) (PAAIA) copolymeric hydrogels were prepared with different compositions via free‐radical polymerization. Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) was used as an original crosslinker for these monomers. Gelation percentages of the monomers were studied in detail and it was found that addition of IA into the monomer mixture decreased the gelation percentage. The variation in swelling values (%) with time, temperature, and pH was determined for all hydrogels. PAA, which is the most swollen hydrogel, has the swelling percentage value of 2000% at pH = 7.4, 37°C. Swelling behaviors were explained with detailed SEM micrographs, which show the morphologic differences between dry and swollen hydrogels. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5994–5999, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate–1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole) copolymer beads for heavy‐metal removal

We prepared poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate–1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole) [poly(EGDMA–VTAZ)] beads (average diameter = 150–200 μm) by copolymerizing ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) with 1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole (VTAZ). The copolymer composition was characterized by elemental analysis and found to contain five EGDMA monomer units for each VTAZ monomer unit. The poly(EGDMA–VTAZ) beads had a specific surface area of 65.8 m²/g. Poly(EGDMA–VTAZ) beads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, surface area measurements, swelling studies, and scanning electron microscopy. Poly(EGDMA–VTAZ) beads with a swelling ratio of 84% were used for the heavy‐metal removal studies. The adsorption capacities of the beads for Cd(II), Hg(II), and Pb(II) were investigated in aqueous media containing different amounts of these ions (5–750 mg/L) and at different pH values (3.0–7.0). The maximum adsorption capacities of the poly(EGDMA–VTAZ) beads were 85.7 mg/g (0.76 mmol/g) for Cd(II), 134.9 mg/g (0.65 mmol/g) for Pb(II), and 186.5 mg/g (0.93 mmol/g) for Hg(II). The affinity order toward triazole groups on a molar basis was observed as follows: Hg(II) > Cd(II) > Pb(II). pH significantly affected the adsorption capacity of the VTAZ‐incorporated beads. The equilibrium data were well fitted to the Redlich–Peterson isotherm. Consideration of the kinetic data suggested that chemisorption processes could have been the rate‐limiting step in the adsorption process. Regeneration of the chelating‐beads was easily performed with 0.1M HNO₃. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 4276–4283, 2006     

Preparation and characterization of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐based porous copolymeric particles

2‐Hydroxyethyl methacrylate was copolymerized with three different comonomers, methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (St), and N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NVP), respectively, to prepare porous particles crosslinked using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) in the presence of an organic solvent, 1‐octanol (porogen), by means of suspension copolymerization in an aqueous phase initiated by 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile. Nano‐pores were observed in the particles. The pore size and the swelling properties of these particles can be controlled by changing comonomers or adjusting the crosslinker or porogen concentration. A lower crosslinker or porogen concentration favors generating smaller pores, whereas a higher concentration of a hydrophilic comonomer, higher concentration of crosslinker, and higher porogen volume ratio promote the generation of larger pores. In addition, the effects of the porous characteristics on the swelling properties were explored. The swelling capacity of the porous particles is reduced with the increase in the crosslinker concentration; however, there is a critical porogen volume ratio, in which the maximal swelling capacity is reached. Higher porosity in the particles and higher amount of hydrophilic comonomer favor a higher swelling capacity of the particles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Synthetic polymeric absorbent for dye based on chemically crosslinked acrylamide/mesaconic acid hydrogels

Adsorption properties of copolymers of acrylamide and mesaconic acid (CAME) in aqueous Basic Blue 12 (Nile blue chloride) solution have been investigated. Chemically crosslinked CAME hydrogels with various compositions were prepared from ternary mixtures of acrylamide (A), mesaconic(ME) acid, and water by free radical polymerization in aqueous solution, using a multifunctional crosslinker such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). Dynamic swelling tests in water was applied to the hydrogels. Weight swelling ratio (S) values have been calculated. Sorption of Basic Blue 12 (BB 12) onto CAME hydrogels was studied by batch sorption technique at 25°C. In the experiments of the sorption, L type sorption in the Giles classification system was found. Some binding parameters such as initial binding constant (K_i), equilibrium constant (K), monolayer coverage (n), site‐size (u), and maximum fractional occupancy (Ô) for CAME hydrogels‐BB 12 binding system were calculated by using Klotz, Scatchard, and Langmuir linearization methods. Finally, the amount of sorbed BB 12 per gram of dry hydrogel (q) was calculated to be 2.28 × 10^?6–7.91× 10^?6 mol BB 12 per gram for hydrogels. Sorption % was changed range 16.09–58.86%. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 405–413, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of pH‐sensitive crosslinked (NIPA‐co‐AAC) nanohydrogels copolymer

A thermoresponsive polymeric nanohydrogels has been synthesized by inverse microemulsion polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and acrylic acid (AAc) using Aerosol (AOT) as a surfactant, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a crosslinker, and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. The effect of concentration of AIBN, EGDMA, and NIPA/AAc weight ratio was investigated. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of poly (NIPA‐co‐AAC) can be manipulated to be 40°C and 45°C which was correlated to amount of AAc that was copolymerized with NIPA. FTIR, 1H NMR, TEM, and DSC characterized the nanohydrogels. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Porous dye affinity beads for albumin separation from human plasma

Porous polymeric beads were obtained by the suspension polymerization of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). Poly(HEMA–EGDMA) beads were characterized by surfacearea measurements, swelling studies, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and elemental analysis. Poly (HEMA–EGDMA) beads had a specific surface area of 56 m²/g. SEM observations showed that the poly(HEMA–EGDMA) beads abounded macropores. Poly(HEMA–EGDMA) beads with a swelling ratio of 55%, and containing different amounts of Reactive Red 120 (9.2–39.8 μmol/g) were used in the adsorption/desorption of human serum albumin (HSA) from aqueous solutions and human plasma. The nonspecific adsorption of HSA was very low (0.2 mg/g). The maximum HSA adsorption amount from aqueous solution in phosphate buffer was 60.1 mg/g at pH 5.0. Higher HSA adsorption value was obtained from human plasma (up to 95.7 mg/g) with a purity of 88%. The equilibrium monolayer adsorption amount, Q_max was determined as 172.4 mg/g. The dimensionless separation factor (R_L) value shows that the adsorption behavior of HSA onto the Reactive Red 120 attached poly(HEMA–EGDMA) beads was favorable (0 < R_L < 1). Desorption of HSA from Reactive Red 120 attached poly (HEMA–EGDMA) beads was performed using 0.1M Tris/HCl buffer containing 0.5M NaCl. It was observed that HSA could be repeatedly adsorbed and desorbed with Reactive Red 120‐attached poly(HEMA–EGDMA) beads without significant loss in the adsorption amount. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Preparation and application in drug controlled delivery of pH‐sensitive P(CE‐co‐DMAEMA‐co‐MEG) hydrogel

A pH‐sensitive hydrogel [P(CE‐co‐DMAEMA‐co‐MEG)] was synthesized by the free‐radical crosslinking polymerization of N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate(MPEG‐Mac) and methoxyl poly(ethylene glycol)‐poly(caprolactone)‐methacryloyl methchloride (PCE‐Mac). The effects of pH and monomer content on swelling property, swelling and deswelling kinetics of the hydrogels were examined and hydrogel microstructures were investigated by SEM. Sodium salicylate was chosen as a model drug and the controlled‐release properties of hydrogels were pilot studied. The results indicated that the swelling ratios of the gels in stimulated gastric fluids (SGF, pH = 1.4) were higher than those in stimulated intestinal fluids (SIF, pH = 7.4), and followed a non‐Fickian and a Fickian diffusion mechanism, respectively. In vitro release studies showed that its release rate depends on different swelling of the network as a function of the environmental pH and DMAEMA content. SEM micrographs showed homogenous pore structure of the hydrogel with open pores at pH 1.4. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40737.     

Properties of n‐butyl methacrylate copolymer latex films derived from crosslinked latex particles

Films obtained from copolymer latexes of n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) with a series of crosslinking monomers [i.e., a macromonomer crosslinker (Mac), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and aliphatic urethane acrylate] exhibited differences in their tensile properties and swelling behaviors. For P(BMA‐co‐EGDMA) copolymer, a dependence on the initiator type was obtained. It is postulated that the network microstructures for the various copolymers evolved as the result of the copolymerization reactions between the monomer pairs during the synthesis in the miniemulsion free‐radical copolymerization. These network microstructures are, therefore, hypothesized to influence the mechanical properties of the resultant films. Copolymers prepared with Mac were tough in comparison with copolymers made with EGDMA. The presence of longer linear or lightly crosslinked poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) chains and the looseness of the crosslinked network structures in the PBMA‐co‐Mac copolymers appear to be the factors responsible for the differences. All of the copolymer films disintegrated into swollen individual microgels when they were immersed in tetrahydrofuran. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 42–49, 2003     

Gelation and crosslinking characteristics of photopolymerized poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels

The gelation and crosslinking features of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels were scrutinized through the UV polymerization processes of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) mixtures. The real‐time evolutions of the elastic moduli of the prepolymerized mixtures with different crosslinking ratios of PEGMA and PEGDMA and the photoinitiator concentrations were measured during photopolymerization. The rheological properties were compared with other properties of the PEG hydrogels, including the relative changes in the C?C amounts in the mixtures before and after UV irradiation, water swelling ratio, gel fraction, mesh size, and mechanical hardness. As the portion of PEGDMA as a crosslinker increased, the final elastic modulus and gel fraction increased, whereas the swelling ratio and scratch penetration depth at the hydrogel film surface decreased because of the formation of compact networks inside the hydrogels. These results indicate that there was a good correlation between the rheological analysis for predicting the crosslinking transition during photopolymerization and the macroscopic properties of the crosslinked hydrogels. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41939.     

Synthesis,characterization, and antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles on poly(GMA‐co‐EGDMA) polymer support

Poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (poly(GMA‐co‐EGDMA) macroporous copolymer decorated with silver nanoparticles was prepared by a modification of poly(GMA‐co‐EGDMA) in the reaction with arginine, and consequent reduction of silver ions with amino groups. The mercury intrusion porosimetry, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, UV–vis reflection spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission measurements were used to characterize obtained composite. The coordination of silver nanoparticles to the poly(GMA‐co‐EGDMA) copolymer was studied using infrared spectroscopy. Time dependence and concentration dependence of the antimicrobial efficiency of composite were tested against Gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli , Gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus , and fungus Candida albicans . The composite ensured maximum reduction of both bacteria, while the fungi reduction reached satisfactory 96.8%. Preliminary antimicrobial efficiency measurements using laboratory flow setup indicated potential applicability of composite for wastewater treatment. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1206–1214, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Synthesis of block copolymers via redox polymerization

Polymerization and copolymerization of vinyl monomers such as acrylamide, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, and acrylic acid with a redox system of Ce(IV) and organic reducing agents containing hydroxy groups were studied. The reducing compounds were poly(ethylene glycol)s, halogen‐containing polyols, and depolymerization products of poly(ethylene terephthalate). Copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol)s‐b‐polyacrylonitrile, poly(ethylene glycol)s‐b‐poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene glycol)s‐b‐polyacrylamide, poly(ethylene glycol)s‐b‐poly(acrylamide‐co‐vinyl acetate), poly(1‐chloromethyl ethylene glycol)‐bpoly(acrylonitrile‐co‐vinyl acetate), and bis[poly(ethylene glycol terephthalate)]‐b‐poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐vinyl acetate) were produced. The yield of acrylamide polymerization and the molecular weight of the copolymer increased considerably if about 4% vinyl acetate was added into the acrylamide monomer. However, the molecular weight of the copolymer was decreased when 4% vinyl acetate was added into the acrylonitrile monomer. Physical properties such as solubility, water absorption, resistance to UV light, and viscosities of the copolymers were studied and their possible uses are discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 1385–1395, 1999