Poly(organophosphazene)s bearing 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy and various hydrophobic groups were synthesized and characterized by NMR, gel permeation chromatography and elemental analysis. The water solubility of these polymers varied depending on the c...
Poly(organophosphazene)s bearing 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy and various hydrophobic groups were synthesized and characterized by NMR, gel permeation chromatography and elemental analysis. The water solubility of these polymers varied depending on the composition Hydrogels of water soluble polymers were prepared after crosslinking. Several thermoplastic hydrogels were obtained. All the polymers synthesized in this study showed LCST behaviors as transparent hydrogels turned cloudy as the temperature was increased. The volume change accompanied by the transition varied depending on the amount of water in the hydrogel. For hydrogels containing small amounts of water, the volume changes were undetectable. The transition temperatures decreased as the amounts of water in the hydrogels were increased. Results of this study showed that the temperature sensitivity of degree of swelling and phase transition from transparent phase to cloudy phase were dependent on the nature of hydrophobic substituents.