Properties of crosslinked polyurethanes synthesized from 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate and polyester polyol

Polyurethanes were synthesized using the high functional 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), polyester polyol, and 1,4‐butane diol. The synthesized polyurethanes were analyzed using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, and swelling measurement using N,N′‐dimethylformamide. From the result of thermal analysis by DSC and DMTA, single T_gs were observed in the polyurethane samples at all the formulated compositions. From this result, it is suggested that the polyurethanes synthesized in this study have crosslinked structure rather than the phase‐separated segmented structure because of the high functionality (f = 2.9) of the MDI. By annealing the polyurethane samples using DSC, the T_gs were increased by 4.7∼16.0°C at the various annealing temperatures. From the results of FTIR and swelling measurement of polyurethanes, it is suggested that the increase of T_g of the polyurethanes by annealing is not due to increase of the hydrogen bond strength but mainly due to the increase of the crosslink density. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 624–630, 2000     

Glass‐transition‐temperature depression in chemically crosslinked low‐density polyethylene and high‐density polyethylene and their blends with ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer

A reduction in the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) was found for polyolefins chemically crosslinked by peroxide. This tendency, which was observed for low‐density and high‐density polyethylenes, was also validated for their blends with Ethylene Vinyl Acetate copolymer. It is proposed that the constrained crystallization process, as a result of a restriction imposed on the chain packing by the chemical crosslinks, results in an increasing net free volume in the amorphous phase and hence reduces T_g. The T_g depression becomes greater with increasing crosslink density, whereas at the same time, the degree of crystallinity and consequently the density of the system decreases with an increase in the peroxide content. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1654–1660, 2007     

Engineering plastics from lignin. VI. Structure–property relationships of PEG-containing polyurethane networks

Hydroxypropyl lignin-based thermosetting polyurethanes were synthesized with excess hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and tolylene diisocyanate (TDI) by solution casting. Four polyethylene glycols (PEG) of molecular weight 400, 600, 1000, and 4000 were mixed with lignin polyol to incorporate different proportions of soft segment into the network prior to crosslinking. Neither thermal nor mechanical and limited small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis provided distinct evidence for phase separation and microstructure formation. The study examines the effect of the soft segment in relation to chain length and weight contribution on the thermal and mechanical properties of the final networks. A significant sensitivity of glass transition temperature (T_g), of swelling in DMF, and of the mechanical properties to soft segment content was observed. Some of this sensitivity must, however, be attributed to differences in crosslink density since the polyol to diisocyanate weight ratio was kept constant throughout the synthesis series. The magnitude of the change of the different properties was found to be influenced by both glycol content and glycol molecular weight. The T_g of the network decreased from 105°C to as low as 38°C (HDI), and from 158°C to 70°C (TDI), with incorporation of up to 17.8% glycol, and it was greater with lower molecular weight glycols than with higher ones at any weight fraction. Swelling in DMF increased as expected with soft segment content. Mechanical properties were affected most if HDI and lower molecular weight glycols were used. The uniformity in structure, reduction in brittleness, and considerable improvement in mechanical properties with inclusion of minor PEG contents indicates that lignin-based network polyurethanes can be synthesized with controllable performance characteristics.     

Effects on the structure and properties of membranes formed by blending polydimethylsiloxane polyurethane into different soft‐segment waterborne polyurethanes

Polydimethylsiloxane polyurethane (PDMS‐PU), which was synthesized from PDMS as the soft segment, was blended into a variety of ester‐ or ether‐based soft‐segment waterborne polyurethanes with different concentrations to investigate the crystallization, thermal, and physical properties of the membrane formations. According to X‐ray analysis, the ether‐based PUs, synthesized from soft segments of poly(propylene glycol) (PPG1000) or poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG2000), were found to have maximum crystallinity at a 5% blending ratio of PDMS‐PU, but the ester‐based PU, synthesized from soft segments of polycaprolactone (PCL1250), had decreased crystallinity at a 5% blending ratio. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis revealed that the T_g,s values of PUs were highest when the blending ratio of PDMS‐PU was 5%–10%, except for PU from PCL1250. Moreover, ether‐based PUs showed maximum T_m,h values, but the T_m,h of the ester‐based PU was greatly reduced when PU with PCL1250 was blended with PDMS‐PU. In addition, the PU from PEG2000 had the highest melting entropy. Mechanical property analysis showed that the stress of ether‐based PUs would be increased when PUs were blended with a small amount of PDMS‐PU and that the stress of PU from poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG1000) increased to its greatest value (20–30 MPa). On the other hand, the ester‐based PU, from PCL1250 blended with PDMS‐PU, would have reduced stress. On the whole, the stress and strain of PU from PEG1000 had excellent balance. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 210–221, 2006     

Electron beam crosslinking of fluoroalkoxy,methoxyethoxyethoxy, and substituted phenoxy polyphosphazenes: Physical and chemical characterization and comparison to a thermally induced free radical process and ionic complexation

Electron beam, thermal free radical, and cationic complexation mechanisms have been employed to investigate crosslinking in selected polyphosphazenes. In polyphosphazenes functionalized with o‐allylphenol to facilitate free radical crosslinking, maximum crosslink density was achieved after 10 min at 130°C utilizing benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. Electron beam radiation was found to give an increased crosslink density with increased dose. The dose–crosslink density relationship observed for a aryloxyphosphazene terpolymer PPXP also was seen in poly[bis(2,2′‐(methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)phosphazene] (MEEP). However, with two lots of a fluoroalkoxyphosphazene an initial crosslink density was achieved at a lower electron beam exposure with no additional crosslink density observed with increasing dose. These measurements are observations of net crosslinking, which is the result of crosslinking processes balanced by chain scission processes. DSC revealed that neither thermal‐ nor electron beam‐initiated crosslinking cause any significant change in the T_g of the polymer. Metal ion complexation with MEEP consistently gave T_g values that were higher than MEEP. The T_g values measured for both MEEP and the lithium‐complexed MEEP were unaffected by electron beam irradiation. These data suggest the location of lithium complexation may be at the nitrogen lone electron pair on the backbone, representing a new mechanism of lithium complexation in phosphazenes. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 55–66, 2000     

Biodegradable poly(ethylene succinate) blends and copolymers containing minor amounts of poly(butylene succinate)

Poly(ethylene succinate) (PES), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and PES‐rich copolyesters were synthesized using an effective catalyst, titanium tetraisopropoxide. PES was blended with minor amounts of PBS for the comparison. The compositions of the copolyesters and the blends were determined from NMR spectra. Their thermal properties were studied using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), a temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC), and a thermogravimetric analyzer. No significant difference exists among the thermal stabilities of these polyesters and blends. For the blends, the reversible curves of TMDSC showed a distinct glass‐rubber transition temperature (T_g), however, the variation of the T_g values with the blend compositions was small. Isothermal crystallization kinetics and the melting behavior after crystallization were examined using DSC. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffractograms (WAXD) were obtained for the isothermally crystallized specimens. The results of DSC and WAXD indicate that the blends have a higher degree of crystallinity and a higher melting temperature than those of the corresponding copolymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Morphology,biodegradability, mechanical,and thermal properties of nanocomposite films based on PLA and plasticized PLA

In this study, melt intercalation method is applied to prepare poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐plasticized PLA nanocomposite films including 0, 3, and 5% organoclay (Cloisite 30B) using a laboratory scale compounder, which is connected to a microcast film device. To evaluate the nanomorphology and the dispersion state of the clays, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are conducted. Tensile tests are performed to characterize the mechanical behavior of the films. Biodegradation rate is determined by degradation tests in composting medium. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) is applied to observe the thermal behavior of the films. XRD and TEM show that the exfoliation predominantly occurrs in plasticized PLA nanocomposites, whereas unexfoliated agglomerates together with exfoliated clays are observed in the nonplasticized PLA. Tensile tests indicate that the addition of 3% clay to the neat‐PLA does not affect the strength; however, it enhances the modulus of the nanocomposites in comparison to neat‐PLA. Incorporation of 3% clay to the plasticized PLA improves the modulus with respect to PLA/PEG; on the other hand, the strain at break value is lowered ～ 40%. The increase in the rate of biodegradation in composting medium is found as in the order of PLA > PLA/PEG > 3% Clay/PLA/PEG > 5% Clay/PLA/PEG > 3% Clay/PLA. DSC analysis shows that the addition of 3% clay to the neat PLA results in an increase in T_g. The addition of 20% PEG as a plasticizer to the neat‐PLA decreases T_g about 30°C, however incorporation of clays increases T_g by 4°C for the plasticized PLA. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

The effect molecular weight of polyol components on shape memory effect of epoxy-polyurethane composites

This paper describes the experimental findings of the study of a series of PU/epoxy composites, which formed interpenetrating networks and have shape-memory properties. The morphological variation for different chemical compositions and the influences of morphology on mechanical performance and shape-memory behavior are discussed. Length and mass fraction of polyethylene glycol (PEG) units are chosen as the key parameters in this study. The molecular weight of PEG was varied from 400 (as such PEG units are unable to crystallize) to 1500, 4000, and 6000, which are crystallizable. It was shown that the crystallization of PEG units is the key parameter, which determines the mechanical performance and shape-memory behavior of PU/epoxy composites in this study. DMTA results show the linear dependence of glass transition temperature and tensile strength, elongation, and other mechanical parameters on the amount of PEG in PU/epoxy composites independently of the amount of PEG unit lengths. The maximal value of shape fixation rate was achieved for 30–40 mass percentage of PEG 4000 (4.5 × 10⁻² s⁻¹ at T_g + 20°C) or PEG 6000(4.1 × 10⁻² s⁻¹ at T_g + 20°C) in PU/epoxy composites.     

Plasticized poly(lactic acid) with low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol): Mechanical,thermal, and morphology properties

Poly(lactic acid) PLA was plasticized with low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) PEG‐200 to improve the ductility of PLA, while maintaining the plasticizer content at maximum 10 wt%. Low molecular weight of PEG enables increased miscibility with PLA and more efficient reduction of glass transition temperature (T_g). This effect is enhanced not only by the low molecular weight but also by its higher content. The tensile properties demonstrated that the addition of PEG‐200 to PLA led to an increase of elongation at break (>7000%), but a decrease of both tensile strength and tensile modulus. The plasticization of the PLA with PEG‐200 effectively lowers T_g as well as cold‐crystallization temperature, increasing with plasticizer content. SEM micrographs reveal plastic deformation and few long threads of a deformed material are discernible on the fracture surface. The use of low molecular weight PEG‐200 reduces the intermolecular force and increases the mobility of the polymeric chains, thereby improving the flexibility and plastic deformation of PLA. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4576–4580, 2013     

Designing crosslinked hyaluronic acid hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties for biomedical applications

This study develops a simple copolymerization/crosslinking technique to control the swelling and mechanical properties of hyaluronic acid‐based hydrogels. Because of the widespread acceptance of poly(ethylene glycol) in biomedical applications, functionalized oligomers of ethylene glycol (EG) were used as comonomers to crosslink methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MHA). The swelling degree, shear and elastic moduli, and fracture properties (stress and strain) of the gels were investigated as a function of the crosslinking oligomer length and reactive group(s). It was hypothesized that acrylated oligomers would increase the crosslink density of the gels through formation of kinetic chains by reducing the steric hindrances that otherwise may limit efficient crosslinking of hyaluronic acid into gels. Specifically, after crosslinking 13 wt % MHA (47% degree of methacrylation) with 0.06 mol % of (EG)_n‐diacrylate, the swelling ratio of the MHA gel decreased from 27 to 15 g/g and the shear modulus increased from 140 to 270 kPa as n increased from 1 to 13 units. The length and functionality (i.e., acrylate vs. methacrylate) of the oligomer controlled the crosslink density of the gels. The significant changes in the gel properties obtained with the addition of low levels of the PEG comonomer show that this method allows precise tuning of the physical properties of hyaluronic acid (HA) gels to achieve desired target values for biomedical applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42009.     

Plasticization of poly‐L‐lactide for tissue engineering

Plasticization of medical grade poly‐L ‐lactide (PLLA) by addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with various molar masses has been evaluated as means of producing low stiffness matrices for bioresorbable scaffolds for soft‐tissue engineering applications. As reported previously, the T_g of injection molded specimens of the PLLA/PEG blends decreased strongly with PEG content, so that at PEG contents of 15 and 25 wt % it became significantly lower than normal human body temperature, implying an essentially rubber‐like mechanical response in vivo. The degree of crystallinity of the moldings also increased strongly with PEG content, reaching a maximum of about 60 wt % at 25 wt % PEG. Moreover, after the immersion in phosphate‐buffered saline for 5 days in 37°C to simulate conditions in vivo, the moldings with the highest PEG contents showed increased water uptake and, for relatively low molar mass PEG, significant mass loss, associated with phase separation and leaching of the PEG. Blends with relatively low PEG contents also showed large increases in their degree of crystallinity. The implications of these changes for the in vivo performance of the blends and their potential for development as matrices for bioresorbable scaffolds are discussed in the light of results from a series of PLLA/PEG copolymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

The glass transition temperature of poly(phenylene sulfide) with various crystallinities

The glass transition temperature (T_g) of poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) with various crystalline fractions has been studied using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC measurements show that T_g can be observed from the heating curves for the PPS sample with very low crystallinity, and no T_g is observed when the crystallinity is over 8%. DMA indicates that crystallinity has an important effect on molecular chain segment motion of PPS. When the crystallinity, X_c, of PPS is over 38%, there is only one chain segment motion, which mainly results from the crystalline chain vibration; while three different chain segment motions occur for PPS samples with lower crystallinity (X_c < 26%), which are amorphous chain segment motion, crystalline chain segment motion and constrained amorphous chain segment motion. T_g of PPS is mainly caused by the amorphous chain segment motion which is independent of the crystallinity, while the relaxation temperature corresponding to crystalline chain motion shifts to lower temperature as the crystallinity increases. The reduction of the relaxation temperature can be attributed to the disorder‐order transition of amorphous chains for PPS with lower crystallinity. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis,characterization, and thermal properties of phosphorus‐containing,wholly aromatic thermotropic copolyesters

A series of phosphorus‐containing, wholly aromatic thermotropic copolyesters from acetylated 2‐(6‐oxide‐6H‐dibenz〈c,e〉〈1,2〉oxa phosphorin‐6‐yl)‐1,4‐dihydroxy phenylene, p‐acetoxybenzoic acid, terephthalic acid, and isophthalic acid were prepared by melting polycondensation. The structure and basic properties of the polymers, such as the glass‐transition temperature (T_g), melting temperature (T_m), thermal stability, crystallinity, and liquid crystallinity, were investigated with Fourier transform infrared, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and hot‐stage polarizing optical microscopy. The copolyesters had relatively high T_g values ranging from 183 to 192°C. The T_m values obtained from DSC curves for samples P‐20 and P‐25 were 290 and 287°C, respectively (where the number in the sample name indicates the molar fraction of the phosphorus‐containing monomer in the reactants). The initial flow temperatures of other samples observed with hot‐stage polarizing microscopy were 271–290°C. The 5% degradation temperatures in nitrogen ranged from 431 to 462°C, and the char yields at 640°C were 41–52%. All the copolyesters, except P‐40, were thermotropic and nematic. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 1278–1284, 2002     

Swelling behavior and determination of diffusion characteristics of acrylamide–acrylic acid hydrogels

In this study, a random copolymer of acylamide and acrylic acid [poly(AAm‐co‐AA)] was prepared by a redox copolymerization method of their aqueous solutions. The effects of initial AAm/AA mole ratio, PEG 4000 content, and N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide concentration on swelling behavior were investigated in water. Average molecular weights between crosslinks, percentage swelling, swelling equilibrium values, and diffusion/swelling characteristics (i.e., the structure of network constant, the type of diffusion, the initial swelling rate, swelling rate constant) were evaluated for every hydrogel systems. The hydrogels showed mass swelling capabilities in the range 789–1040% (for AAm/AA hydrogels), 769–930% (for AAm/AA hydrogels in the presence of PEG 4000), and 716–1040% (for AAm/AA hydrogels containing different concentrations of the crosslinker). The swelling capabilities of the hydrogels decreased with the increasing AA, PEG 4000, and crosslinker concentrations. The diffusion of water into AAm/AA hydrogels was found to be a non‐Fickian type. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1289–1293, 2004     

Thermal,mechanical, and barrier properties of polyethylene terephthalate‐platelet nanocomposites prepared by in situ polymerization

This study used in situ polymerization to prepare polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanocomposites incorporating Ethoquad‐modified montmorillonite (eMMT), unmodified hectorite (HCT), or phenyl hectorite (phHCT) particles to study the impact of platelet surface chemistry and loading on thermal, mechanical, and gas barrier properties. eMMT platelets reduced the PET crystallization rate without altering the ultimate degree of crystallinity. In contrast, HCT and phHCT platelets accelerated the polymer's crystallization rate and increased its crystallinity. DMA results for thermally‐quenched samples showed that as T increased past glass transition temperature (T_g), HCT and phHCT nanocomposites (and control PET) manifested precipitous drops in G′ followed by increasing G′ due to cold crystallization; in contrast, eMMT nanocomposites had much higher G′ values around T_g. This provides direct evidence of eMMT reinforcement in thermally‐quenched eMMT nanocomposites. These results suggest that eMMT has a strong, favorable interaction with PET, possibly through Ethoquad‐PET entanglement. HCT and phHCT have a fundamentally different interaction with PET that increases crystallization rate and T_g by 11 to 17°C. Water barrier improvement in eMMT nanocomposites agrees with previously published oxygen barrier results and can be rationalized in terms of a tortuous path gas barrier model. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 52:1888–1902, 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Crystal structure,curing kinetics,and thermal properties of bisphenol fluorene epoxy resin

Diglycidyl ether of 9,9‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl) fluorene (DGEBF) monomer was successfully synthesized and characterized in detail. The crystal structure of DGEBF was measured by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Curing kinetics of DGEBF with 4,4‐diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS), thermal properties, and decomposition kinetics were investigated using nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) according to Kissinger, Ozawa and Crane methods. The glass transition temperature (T_g), thermal properties of cured polymer were estimated by DSC, dynamic mechanical analysis, and thermogravimetric analyses. Epoxy value of DGEBF monomer up to theoretical value leads to higher crosslink density of cured polymers. The cured DGEBF/DDS system exhibited obvious higher T_g and better thermal stability compared to those of DGEBF/diamine systems reported previously. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Multiblock copolymers based on segments of poly (D,L‐lactic‐glycolic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol) or poly(ϵ‐caprolactone): A comparison of their thermal properties and degradation behavior

A comparison of the thermal properties of two classes of poly(D,L ‐lactic‐glycolic acid) multiblock copolymers is reported. In particular, the results of differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis of copolymers containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) or diol‐terminated poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCDT) segments are described. The influence of the chemical structure and the length of PEG and PCDT on thermal stability, degree of crystallinity and glass transition temperature (T_g ) is discussed. Finally, an evaluation of the hydrolytic behavior in conditions mimicking the physiological environment is reported. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 1721–1728, 2000     

Syntheses and biodegradability of benzylated waste pulps and graft copolymers from PBzs and L‐lactic acid

Benzylated waste pulps (PBzs) were synthesized from treated waste pulp (Pulp), and benzyl chloride with phase transfer catalyst (PTC), and graft copolymers (PBz‐g‐LA) were synthesized from PBzs and L‐lactic acid (LA). Thermal properties, solubility, crystallinity, and biodegradability of the obtained PBzs and graft copolymers were investigated. PBzs with the degree of substitution (DS) higher than 1.5 showed T_g and T_m in DSC measurement. All PBz‐g‐LA exhibited no T_m. However, the graft copolymers obtained from lower DS PBzs having no T_g, exhibited T_g. The solubility of PBzs enhanced with increasing DS, and the crystallinity of PBzs reduced with increasing DS because of hydrophobicity and steric effect of benzyl groups. The solubility of graft copolymers was similar to that of original PBzs. Biodegradation tests for PBzs, Pulp, and graft copolymers were performed using cellulase in 0.1 M acetate buffer solution (pH 5.5) at 37°C. All samples showed biodegradability though the biodegradation rate decreased with increasing DS of PBz. In PBz‐g‐LA, the initial biodegradation rate was faster than that of original PBz because of hydrolysis of LA units. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 2658–2664, 2004     

Effect of swelling agent on the molecular weight of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) synthesized in an aqueous medium

The effects of the species and content of a swelling agent on the molecular weight of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO) synthesized in an aqueous medium were studied. It was found that the molecular weight of PPO increases after introducing a certain amount of the swelling agent during the oxidative polymerization of 2,6‐dimethylphenol (DMP). T_g of the PPO/swelling agent mixture decreases with the increase of the swelling agent content, and the relation between T_g of the PPO/swelling agent mixture and the swelling agent content obeys Fox equation. After the introduction of the swelling agent during the oxidative polymerization of DMP, the molecular weight of PPO is correlated with T_g of the PPO/swelling agent mixture and it was revealed that T_g plays an important role in the molecular weight of PPO synthesized in the aqueous medium. The same molecular weight of PPO can be obtained only if T_g of the PPO/swelling agent mixture is the same, no matter what kind of swelling agent is introduced during the oxidative polymerization of DMP. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The DOPA‐functionalized bioadhesive with properties of photocrosslinked and thermoresponsive

The unusual amino acid l ‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), which was found in mussel adhesive protein, was recognized as crucial element for the adhesive of mussel. In this work, the synthesis of thermoresponsive and photocrosslinkable bioadhesive with ternary networks prepared by incorporating dopamine acrylamide (DAM) and N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) into a crosslinked network based on poly(ethylene glycol)‐triacrylate (PEG‐TA) was reported. The effects of DAM and NIPAAm on polymerization kinetics, swelling kinetics, adhesion strength, thermomechanical properties, and cytotoxicity assays were systematically evaluated. The results showed that DAM could affect photopolymerization kinetics of terpolymer due to inhibitory effects of the catechol. The terpolymer has not only strong adhesion strength which was better than that of the commercial fibrin adhesives (0.05 MPa), but also the good humid‐resistant property. The thermoresponsive properties of the system were investigated by the measurement of swelling kinetics. The equilibrium swelling ratio of gels was obviously higher at 25°C than at 37°C. The thermomechanical properties of terpolymer indicated that the presence of the catechol moiety increased significantly the glass transition temperature (T_g) and crosslink density of ternary network. The results of cytotoxicity of gels indicated that terpolymer were biocompatible and less cytotoxicity towards the growth of mouse fibroblast cells (L929 cells). The obtained products could have the potential to serve as the bioadhesive in the future. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 41102.