| abstract |
Novel thermotropic hydrogel forming polymers are described, which are ramdom copolymers of N,N-dimethyacrylamide with methoxy-ethyl acrylate or methacrylate. The linear polymers exhibit in water a lower-critical-solution-temperature (LCST) between 0 DEG and 70 DEG C. The water swelling of the crosslinked polymers is extremely temperature dependent and the gels show sharply defined clear to opaque transitions. The novel polymers are useful in drug delivery systems, absorption and extraction processes and as qualitative thermometers, thermosensors and self-activating sunscreens, for example for greenhouses. |