PolyHIPEs are porous emulsion-templated polymers that are usually synthesized within surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). PolyHIPEs have unusual, interconnected, open-pore structures, low bulk densities, and the ability to rapidly absorb large quantities of liquid through capillary action. A number of very different polyHIPE systems will be described. Porous biodegradable polyHIPEs of interest for tissue engineering applications were synthesized using two different polymerization mechanisms, free-radical and step-growth. Bicontinuous, hydrogel-filled, hydrophobic polyHIPEs for controlled release applications were synthesized using simultaneous polymerizations in both the external oil phase and the internal water phase. Elastomer-filled ionic polymer membranes for fuel cell applications were synthesized using oil-in-water HIPEs. In addition, surfactant-free polyHIPEs were synthesized through the formation of nanoparticle-stabilized Pickering HIPEs through the spontaneous stabilizing assembly of surface-functionalized silica nanoparticles at the oil-water interface. Surprisingly, changing the crosslinking strategy, locus of initiation, or polymerization mechanism produced profound differences in morphology and properties. Polyacrylate liquid droplet elastomers (LDEs) exhibited extraordinary water retention, resistance to compressive deformation, and self-extinguishing fire retardation. Porous shape memory polyHIPEs (SMPH) based on (meth)acrylates with crystallizable side-chains exhibited fixity ratios of 1.0 and relatively high recovery ratios when compressive strains of 0.70 were used to impose a temporary shape.

Porous emulsion-templated polymer systems: Synthesis, structure, and properties

245th National Meeting (2013)

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