Patent ID: 8513353
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: C08F,C08J

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a polymer, comprising: providing a bicontinuous microemulsion comprising water, a surfactant, and a combination of monomers, said surfactant and monomers being copolymerizable for forming a porous copolymer, wherein said combination of monomers comprises a first monomer more hydrophilic than 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), comprising N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) or methacrylic acid (MAA), and a second monomer as hydrophilic as, or less hydrophilic than, HEMA, comprising HEMA or methyl methacrylate (MMA); polymerizing said surfactant and monomers in said bicontinuous microemulsion to form said porous copolymer, wherein said surfactant and monomers and their respective concentrations in said bicontinuous microemulsion are chosen so that said copolymer has an equilibrium water content of about 76 wt % or higher and has at least one of (1) a tensile strength of about 2 MPa or higher and (2) a Young's modulus of about 100 MPa or higher.