• Korean Membrane Journal
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.67-73
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• 2006

Transparent materials are well known but preparation of transparent poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate {poly (HEMA)} material by varying solvent is a new one and economically reliable. This material is prepared from hydroxyl based monomer HEMA by radical polymerization using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator and isobutanol, 2-butanol, 1-butanol, hexane and toluene as a solvent. The reaction temperature, time and stirring speed were set at $70^{\circ}C$, 4 hrs and 150 rpm, respectively. The polymer was characterized for functional group by IR spectroscopy. It was observed that the intensity of band at $1637 cm^{-1}$ a characteristic band of C=C stretching disappeared indicating that it was completely consumed after polymerization. It was observed that swelling percentage increases with increase as time passes but after a certain time a constant swelling percentage is achieved. SEM pictures reveals that poly (HEMA) prepared by different solvent shows pore with a distinguishable void up to several micrometers. The BET surface area, cumulative pore volume and average pore diameter is greater in poly (HEMA) prepared by hexane as a solvent compared to other solvents. Poly (HEMA) prepared by 1-butanol as a solvent shows higher glass transition temperature compared to other solvents. Poly (HEMA) prepared by different solvents shows $90{\sim}94%$ light transmission property from light transmission measurement and looks transparent.