University of Minnesota

Philip Thomas Dirlam

Marc Andrew Hillmyer

Hasmukh Patel

David J Goldfeld

Larissa Ribeiro Da Fonseca

A foam that includes a polylactide polymer in the form of a star polymer having at least three arms. The foam is an open cell foam having a density no greater than 0.1 g/cm.

Polylactide foams

Lactose-derived hydrogels include at least lactose and methacrylic anhydride. A method of preparing lactose-derived hydrogels includes copolymerizing lactose methacrylate, methacrylic acid, and sodium methacrylate using light-induced photopolymerization. Polymerization proceeds in the absence of a photoinitiator. No volatile organic compounds or waste are produced by the method. The lactose may be provided by a milk permeate waste stream from the dairy or food processing industry.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Philip Thomas Dirlam