The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 2005
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2003
Hossein Omidian, Sunrise, FL (US);
Yong Qiu, Fremont, CA (US);
Shicheng Yang, Hollywood, FL (US);
Dukjoon Kim, Seoul, KR;
Haesun Park, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Kinam Park, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Hossein Omidian, Sunrise, FL (US);
Yong Qiu, Fremont, CA (US);
Shicheng Yang, Hollywood, FL (US);
Dukjoon Kim, Seoul, KR;
Haesun Park, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Kinam Park, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Purdue Research Foundation, West Lafayette, IN (US);
Abstract
Hydrogels having improved elasticity and mechanical strength properties are obtained by subjecting a hydrogel formulation containing a strengthening agent to chemical or physical crosslinking conditions subsequent to initial gel formation. Superporous hydrogels having improved elasticity and mechanical strength properties are similarly obtained whenever the hydrogel formulation is provided with a foaming agent. Interpenetrating networks of polymer chains comprised of primary polymer(s) and strengthening polymer(s) are thereby formed. The primary polymer affords capillary-based water sorption properties while the strengthening polymer imparts significantly enhanced mechanical strength and elasticity to the hydrogel or superporous hydrogel. Suitable strengthening agents can be natural or synthetic polymers, polyelectrolytes, or neutral, hydrophilic polymers.