Abstract
In order to understand the influence of composition on oxygen permeability, the morphology of model silicone hydrogels in both the dry and hydrated states was characterized using a variety of techniques (AFM, HAADF-STEM, solid-state NMR, and X-ray scattering). The model system studied is heterogeneous on length scales below 20 nm and consists of globular silicone-rich domains that rearrange in response to changes in hydration. In contrast to the well-defined morphologies of block copolymer systems, these radically cured amphiphilic networks are less ordered, showing gradual composition fluctuations. Comprehensive morphology characterization rationalizes the transport behavior of these heterogeneous hydrogels: the non-linear permeability increase with increasing silicone monomer content is not only related to changes in the spatial arrangement of silicone-rich domains but also to their mobility. This understanding is needed for further optimizing soft contact lens materials where oxygen transport and optical clarity are critical features.
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