Interpenetrating polymer networks templated on bicontinuous microemulsions containing silicone oil, methacrylic acid, and hydroxyethyl methacrylate

Abstract

Polydimethylsiloxane-poly(methacrylic acid—hydroxyethyl methacrylate) interpenetrating polymer networks (PDMS-P(MAA–HEMA) IPN) were formulated and polymerized simultaneously from bicontinuous microemulsion templates. Microemulsions containing reactive silicone oils and MAA/HEMA in aqueous solution were stabilized with silicone surfactants, and were then reacted at 50 °C for 3 h under an N2 atmosphere. The formation of bicontinuous morphology was confirmed by laser scanning confocal microscopy, reversible swelling behavior, differential scanning calorimetry, texture analysis, and permeability to vitamin B12 in aqueous solution. Incorporating polymerizable surfactants into the microemulsion aided in stabilizing the initial microemulsion structure during polymerization, yielding a more uniform IPN morphology with domain sizes of <200 nm at equilibrium swelling. The process developed here demonstrates a simple, single-step polymerization approach to forming IPNs from low viscosity microemulsion templates, and could potentially be extended to a variety of hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers.