Abstract
Cross-linkings of methacrylate copolymers obtained by radical copolymerization of 2-isothiocyanatoethyl methacrylate (ITEMA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) or methacrylic acid (MAA) were examined.Poly(ITEMA-co-HEMA) was cross-linked at room temperature in tetrahydrofuran (THF) by adding 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0] undec-7-ene (DBU) as a catalyst, to provide the corresponding networked copolymer. Further, poly(ITEMA-co-HEMA) and poly(ITEMA-co-MAA) were cross-linked by heating without any catalysts to give the corresponding networked copolymers, respectively. By IR spectroscopy, it was confirmed that the isothiocyanato group reacted with the hydroxyl group or the carboxyl group in the side chain of the copolymers to afford the networked copolymers. Based on these results, it was concluded that poly(ITEMA-co-HEMA) and poly(ITEMA-co-MAA) have latent ability of cross-linking and that they are useful as key materials for networked copolymer formation.
