ABSTRACT
Segmented networks, in which a bismacromonomer acts as macromolecular crosslinker for a polymer with a lower critical solution temperature, are introduced as a new type of hydrogel polymeric structure with thermo-sensitive properties. Thermo-responsive properties such as swelling or shrinking behavior and cloud point temperature of segmented networks based on poly(N-vinyl caprolactam), crosslinked with hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) or hydrophobic poly(tetrahydrofuran) α,ω-bis(meth)acrylates, were investigated. It was found that these properties can be regulated by the block-copolymer composition, crosslinking density and nature and molecular weight of the crosslinker.
