Polymer Bulletin, Vol.42, No.6, 709-716, 1999
Thermosensitive networks based on high molecular weight polyoxyethylene and N-isopropylacrylamide
gamma- and UV-irradiation was successfully used for the preparation of mixed networks on the basis of high molecular weight polyoxyethylene (POE) and/or N-isopropylacrylamide and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm). These gels preserve the swelling transition temperature of the pure PNIPAAm and shrink faster above this temperature due to the hydrophilic POE chains. It was found that in a collapsed state these gels retain alkaline organic salts from aqueous solutions.