| abstract |
This invention pertains to a process for the manufacture of a hydrophilic polymeric product, consisting in causing a material comprising a crosslinked silicone polymer matrix and photoinitiator groups dispersed and immobilized within the polymer matrix to swell in a swelling solution comprising a solvent for swelling the crosslinked silicone polymer of the matrix of the material, a photopolymerizable hydrophilic monomer and optionally a crosslinking agent and a proton- or electron-donating coinitiator compound, when the material comprises photoactivable photoinitiator groups and does not comprise proton- or electron-donating coinitiator groups causing the photopolymerizable hydrophilic monomer to diffuse into the swollen material, and polymerizing, by irradiation, the photopolymerizable hydrophilic monomer. |