U.S.-Bulgaria Polymer Research on Properties of Hydrogels with Hydrophobic Cross-Link

美国-保加利亚研究项目的主要目标是纽约州立大学环境科学与林业学院的约翰尼斯·斯米德博士和保加利亚科学院聚合物研究所的克里斯托·茨维塔诺夫博士，目的是合成和评价基于聚环氧乙烷(PEO)的亲水/疏水聚合物凝胶。本项目的主要目标是：1)合成和表征含有疏水中心的聚环氧乙烷水凝胶网络；2)研究凝胶的溶胀行为随温度、盐和表面活性剂添加剂的变化；3)建立凝胶的结合特性；以及4)探索水凝胶的潜在应用。研究人员关心的是理解从聚氧乙烷中提取的材料。他们的努力应该会产生关于含有环氧乙烷部分的化合物的信息。这些信息应有助于理解与聚氧乙烷及其许多衍生物有关的问题，包括线型和网络型聚合物，以及嵌段和接枝共聚物。这一聚合物研究项目通过使美国和东欧的顶尖专家能够将互补的人才结合在一起，并在具有强烈共同兴趣和能力的领域汇集研究资源，实现了促进科学知识发展的计划目标。

The primary objective of this US-Bulgarian research project between Dr. Johannes Smid of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Dr. Christo Tsvetanov of the Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, is to synthesize and evaluate hydrophilic/hydrophobic polymer gels based on polyethyleneoxide (PEO). The main goals of this project are: 1) to synthesize and characterize hydrogel networks of polyethylene oxide containing hydrophobic sites; 2) to study the swelling behavior of gels as a function of temperature, salt and surfacant additive; 3) to establish the binding characteristics of the gels; and 4) to explore potential applications of the hydrogels. The researchers are concerned with understanding materials derived from polyethylene oxide. Their efforts should produce information regarding compounds containing the ethylene oxide moiety. Such information should be an important contribution to the understanding of problems related to polyethlene oxide and its many derivatives including linear and network polymers, and block and graft copolymers. This project in polymers research fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Eastern Europe to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.